Friday, June 23, 2023

A Letter To Patagonia Founder, Yvon Chouinard

Reading Yvon Chionard's, 'Let My People Go Surfing' in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Photo by Ombraz Cofounder, Jensen.

A few weeks ago, a little birdy sent us over Yvon Choinard's address. We figured Yvon could use a pair of armless sunglasses for flyfishing - we also wanted to express our gratitude for the significant influence Yvon has had on the way we've built Ombraz. Below is the open letter we penned to him.

Happy Spring Yvon!

I hope these sunglasses make their way into your hands. This armless concept - born on a camel expedition in India - was brought to life via the guiding principles you instilled in entrepreneurs and environmental stewards across the globe.

I think you'll find them particularly practical - they don't slip down your nose, they don't tenderize your temples, and you can store them in a pocket without worrying about breaking them. But my favorite part? They're the most carbon-negative product on the planet. We plant 20 mangrove trees in Madagascar for every pair we sell - we just planted our millionth mangrove tree. A recent carbon audit completed by a third party in Chile (Green Ticket), calculated that through our tree planting initiatives, a pair of Ombraz is over 1,713X carbon negative.

I wanted to reach out to thank you. Your leadership and philosophies have paved the way for companies to do good and operate with an ethos that goes far beyond obsessing over profit. 'Let My People Go Surfing' has served as our North Star and guiding compass as we navigate the uncharted waters of building this company. Every Ombraz employee and contractor is required to read your book in their first week.

We hope Ombraz solve the issues you've had with sunglasses and that you enjoy them for many years to come. Don't wear them tight, find the sweet spot with the cord. If you have any feedback or need prescription lenses, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Thank you, Yvon.
Jensen
Ombraz Cofounder