Synthetic-fleece tops have served as workaday cool-weather wear for over two decades, but Patagonia’s Synchilla Marsupial stands out with equal parts style and soul. Originally created in the 1990’s from a blend of polyester fibers and recycled soda bottles, the jacket touted eco-chic in the days of grunge and granola. Today it’s sleek enough for après-ski in Aspen and guaranteed to keep you warm anywhere from Stratton to St. Moritz. Made of a quick-dry, wrinkle-free fabric, it packs small with a lot of punch, including a hand-warming kangaroo pouch with an internal zip pocket for your wallet or passport. Bonus: at the end of the Marsupial’s lifetime—many years and many miles down the trail—you can donate it back to the company’s Common Threads Recycling Program, which will birth a new garment from fibers well used and long loved.
Patagonia’s Eco-Friendly Jacket
Photo: Nigel Cox
