Like a lot of people, I first saw the underside of the Patagonia label via Corey Ciorciari’s Twitter feed. Ciorciari is the executive vice president for policy at Evergreen Strategy Group and a former senior advisor to California Sen. Kamala Harris. “Vote the assholes out,” the label says, and who can argue with that? But with all the deepfakes and Photoshops in the hands of, well, everyone, I was dubious whether it was real. I even downloaded the picture and enlarged it massively in my own Photoshop. In the end, I resorted to something simpler and reached out to Patagonia’s public affairs to get the answers.
So, did you guys really make this label?
It’s true: Patagonia has made a super limited edition run of our Road to Regenerative™ Stand Up® Shorts that have a tag in them with the words, “Vote the assholes out” on the underside of the label. We were having some fun in these dark days. Yvon coined this phrase years ago and we are glad it is getting some attention.
Who are “the assholes”? Are you referring to all Republicans?
First of all, this is not partisan. For several years now we have used this to refer to politicians from any party who deny climate change is real, or don’t believe we should do anything about climate change, not because they aren’t aware of it, but because their pockets are lined with money from oil and gas interests.
How did these come about?
Our design team added these tags in and as soon as Yvon heard about them, he said, “I need those in a 32!”
Will you make them again?
We hope we can help elect climate champions on November 3, 2020, and that we don’t have to make them again next year…or ever again.
Why did you choose just one product? Is it going to be on more products?
We picked the Regenerative Organic Stand-Up Shorts because we have been standing up to climate deniers for almost as long as we’ve been making those shorts. And we want to encourage our community to join us in voting for climate champions and voting the assholes out.
Shop your women’s version of the Regenerative Organic Stand-Up Shorts here and the men’s version here.
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the simple fact people assume they mean republicans when people read that statement is the best part of all.
Actually it is a sad commentary.
There are many other wonderful brands of outdoor clothing to choose from. Not impressed with this move patagonia.
Cry me a river, Mike. We’re wonderfully impressed with this move, Patagonia.
It would seem that moniker applies to anyone that is a career politician, living off the public dole. If one has been in office for 40+ years and things are only worse, they are clearly not part of the solution but are the problem. Rather than A-holes they can simply be referred to as incumbents.
Or, like John Lewis, you’ve been fighting an uphill battle all your life.
John Lewis was a great man, but terribly useless as a Congressman.
The fact is that simple people think that means Republicans. There, I fixed it for you.
We need yard signs with the Patagonia logo and “vote the assholes out” printed on them!
Nailed it. And the knee-jerk defensiveness of said simpletons is the icing on the cake.
It refers to the asshole Trump and his Republican buddies. There, I said what all of you are thinking. Two more months and the climate will be rejoicing.
Damn! My wife gave me a pair for my b-day in July. I just checked-I didn’t get it, but I’m going to do my part to vote the assholes out.
I have to say I cringe at most of Patagonia’s political efforts. Especially since the Bears Ears Monument shrinkage, which I disagreed with, and their “THE PRESIDENT STOLE YOUR LAND” post, which agree or disagree doesn’t matter because it was factually false. Not even close.
As far as this goes, politically, they do just mean Republicans by “assholes”, which doesn’t do their cause any good, since most Republican environmentalists have stronger feelings about the former than the latter.
“Republican environmentalists”
Now there’s an oxymoron for ya.
That’s a funny joke. But, it’s not true and the assumptions are very harmful. As an independent, have voted both ways. I am a true moderate, socially liberal and fiscally conservative human. I care very much about the environment. In fact, I put my time where many people put their talk- into cleaning up the community and dedicating my own efforts to helping instead of complaining or simply voting based on a marketing campaign. I think you should consider how you judge whole groups based on marketing of your side and the bad apples of the other. We agree on most things, certainly environmentalism. Both sides want you to think in terms of opposition, but the differences in moderates are very nuanced. Take time to think about it, and check parti-cism.
Very well put. Folks need to try actually thinking for themselves and doing their own research. Following the mob is dangerous these days. Bicycling Magazine is finding out the hard way about assumptions.
Well, at one time, yes, Republicans demonstrated concern for the enviornment. They simply don’t anymore, or at least they’re hiding it for fear of their President’s social media retribution. How can you deny this? It’s unreal how spineless other Republicans—historically strong leaders—have cowered under Trump’s church-backed effort to turn America back into a Puritanical, white-led country.
Craig, not that I disagree, but let’s try to stick to facts and not judgment. Public lands, climate, everything is politicized now, but I want us to strive to keep AJ on topic. Not saying it’s easy, cause it ain’t.
Just ordered a pair! I will laugh every day I put them on!
I’m a Patagonia supporter. Love how mission-driven the company is, that they fight for the environment and I love the clothes. In fact, I’m wearing a Patagonia fleece as I write this comment. HOWEVER, it’s really disappointing Patagonia is stooping to name-calling, especially such an offensive name. That doesn’t persuade anyone to join the climate fight. In fact just the opposite. I hope that Doug Freeman and whoever is named as the next CEO realizes that is not the way to win all the hearts and minds we need in the climate fight.
Is anyone else suffering from political fatigue? I am. All my friends seem to want to talk about is politics, and if not politics then it’s BLM or COVID or climate change and the conversation always devolves into politics. Turn on a ball game: politics! Walk to the grocery store, people are protesting: politics! Go to Adventure-Journal for a mental escape: politics! Put on my over-priced Patagonia shorts: politics!
I can tell you stories about some piece of Patagonia gear that I used for a decade, that I got second-hand from a friend who bought it second-hand, that I eventually gave to a friend that is still using it. All the summit photos of me and my climbing partners adorned in Patagonia logos, as if we were sponsored by the company. I’m drinking the cool-aid and have been for a long time. And my respects to them for voicing their opinion (kind of), but this is a turn off for me.
The world is on fire, the air is infected, ice shelves breaking, glaciers melting, oil on beaches, polluted drinking water, mass extinctions, endless lies… and the back of this tag is a turn off?
Perhaps the wrong “cool-aid” is in the fridge.
Voting out assholes is always a good thing to do. It is a very simple statement. Anybody who who chooses to over politicize this and assign partisanship to it… that’s on you. There are assholes of all political leanings and walks of life. Be gone assholes.
This seems unnecessarily inflammatory. Why not “Vote Climate”, “Mother Earth For President”, “Stand for Something”, “Turn Off the Screen and Get Outside” or something helpful? The other side or all incumbents shouldn’t automatically be considered an asshole. While Trump and McConnell are indeed assholes, we need not paint with a broad brush and harden the attitude of their supporters. We need to work with those we disagree with to come up with solutions that help us all.
Actually, “Made in the US” would probably be the best thing Patagonia could put on their clothes.
Maybe you’re familiar with the Vote The Environment campaign Patagonia has done every election cycle for well over a decade? No? Well, there goes your idea. How helpful is something if it doesn’t get people’s attention and just exists as part of the status quo? It’s not helpful.
Incumbents are the status quo – vote them all out.
Showing my age: “Republican environmentalist” was not always a fossil fuel burning oxymoron. Think Christine Todd Whitman, who endorsed Biden during the DNC.
While the slogan may be offensive to some, it ain’t a lie, which is all (the best?) you get from the current Administration.
Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator of the EPA in the administration of President George W. Bush … 2 DECADES ago. A political party can do quite a lot of damage in 20 years, especially if they’re assholes. 😉
Bookmarked for post-Electoral College certification comment.
I have been buying Patagonia since they were sold at American Eagle stores. I bought my first when I was 19 in 1979 and still have it, my 21-year-old son now wears it. I had the watch arm inner lining changed 2 times in think due to wear.
You A**holes at Patagonia forget who got you where you are today. I am a conservative from Indiana who has a closet full of your overpriced wonderful clothing.
The A88holes you are referring to are your wonderful customer’s ladies and gentlemen. You have no gratitude and are ambivalent and blind. Good luck in your future without people like me who got to where you are today. So ignorant and foolish.
It’s very easy to throw the blame on others…
Although you have very good programs like taxing yourselves and supporting NGOs. More can be done and most important for the environment is what are you doing to drive less consumption of your products which actually leads to sustainability… we can wait for the A**holes to do the job for us, or start ourselves…
Unfortunately, this tab despite the best of intentions can be seen like greenwashing… you are on a good track… keep going…
31 (now 32) comments about what’s printed on the back side of the label inside a pair of shorts. That’s what we’re arguing about now?
So I had to check, the back side of the label in the pants I’m wearing now has washing instructions. Says to wash with similar colors. Heck with that! I’m throwing my blue jeans in with a red shirt!