Some labels dominate a corner of the market to such an extent that they become almost synonymous with it. Patagonia, for example, is credited with creating the first piled, synthetic wool jackets that we now know as fleeces.
When founder Yvon Chouinard began searching for an alternative to his favorite wool sweater which became heavy when wet and took too long to dry, he came across an acrylic pile fabric in Canada that inspired him. With the help of Patagonia’s seamstress, the first prototype of the synthetic fleece was made and, of course, it had a Patagonia label on it.
Since then, the Patagonia fleece has come a long way. Polartec's introduction stands as a pivotal point in developing a new fabric, and leaps have been made since to make Patagonia fleece sustainable, whether that’s in material terms or the possibility of buying used gear from the website. In honor of the OG, we took to the net to round up the best Patagonia fleeces around and you can shop the lot below.
Shop our favorite Patagonia fleece colorways below.
Patagonia Synchilla® Snap-T® Fleece Sweatshirt
Synchilla Snap-T Fleece Pullover
Patagonia
Making use of Patagonia’s Synchilla® fabric — which was one of the first synthetic fleece fabrics designed by Patagonia in the late 1970s — the Snap-T Fleece is definitely one of the most retro designs in today’s roundup with a half-button fastening and single flap pocket to the chest.
Patagonia Retro Pile Fleece Vest
Retro Pile Fleece
Patagonia
Part of Patagonia’s quest for the most sustainable materials, this environmentally friendly Retro Pile Fleece mimics the feel of shearling but takes on a more athletic silhouette with a stand collar. The thin fabric makes it ideal for layering, which is why we're opting for a vest.
Patagonia Classic Retro-X Fleece Vest
Classic Retro-X Vest
Patagonia
The Retro-X Fleece proves that making the perfect fleece is no easy feat, but Patagonia has got it on lock. A windproof membrane is topped by sherpa fleece while a breathable warp-knit mesh, as well as an internal wind flap behind the zip, round out this masterpiece.
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