In April 1971, University of California Santa Cruz students Eric Reynolds and Dave Huntley were in Alaska’s Juneau Icefield on a school Glaciology project. It was there on a glacier that the idea of a Marmot Club began. The name ‘Marmot’ refers to a group of highly social, large ground squirrels that live in mountainous areas.
To become a Marmot, you had to climb a glaciated peak with another Marmot. One of the rules of the club was that everyone was President. Most of the other rules dealt with a collegiate fascination for bodily functions.
Throughout that summer and over the next two years, Eric and Dave also began making prototypes of down products in their dorm room. Their first products were a down vest, a sweater and a parka and, later, three down sleeping bags. The warmest bag, the PIKA (now known as the CWM) was rated at -45 degrees F.
In the winter of 1973, Eric did an ascent of the Grand Teton in Wyoming with Tom Boyce of Grand Junction, Colorado. The following spring, Eric and Dave joined Tom in Grand Junction where they rented a 100 year old stone building near downtown and opened a rental and retail shop under the name of Marmot Mountain Works. They taught cross-country skiing in the winter to get by. Thus, in the spring of 1974, Marmot the company was born.
That fall, Tom was climbing in Peru where he met famed adventure filmmaker Mike Hoover. A few weeks after his return, Tom received a call from Mike. He was calling on behalf of 20th Century Fox who were filming a movie called The Eiger Sanction with Clint Eastwood, and needed 108 very puffy jackets. “No problem”, said Tom, “we were working on that when you called.” Well, they weren’t, but they then did. Within a week, the Marmots had designed the Golden Mantle (very puffy jacket). Marmot was now in the movies. It also had its biggest order to date.
In 1976, another meeting would change the future of Marmot when Eric met Joe Tanner of W.L. Gore & Associates. Eric was one of the first in the U.S. to see a new concept in outdoor performance fabrication called Gore-Tex. He was intrigued, and within a couple weeks had sewn prototype sleeping bags using the new Gore-Tex fabric for field testing. He and Dave proceeded to spend seven nights in a commercial frozen meat locker comparing bags with and without the Gore-Tex fabric as well as testing the bags under fire sprinklers. They liked what they saw and immediately changed everything in the line to Gore-Tex fabrications. Today, Marmot is the oldest customer of W.L. Gore in the world outdoor market.
Marmot has grown quite a bit since our humble beginnings in 1974, but one thing has never changed; our commitment to designing the highest quality performance product.
Marmot; Love the Outside
Our company philosophy is based on a three-fold responsibility.
People: To create fair human working conditions, to support social initiatives and to foster a multi-cultural company philosophy
Product: To produce the best outdoor equipment which meets the expectations of mountain professionals and enthusiasts
Planet: To produce environmental friendly products and foster a global ecological awareness
True to its principles, Marmot has now been producing high-quality technical clothing and equipment for mountaineers, outdoor enthusiasts and extreme alpinists since 1974. As a value-based company, Marmot is committed to a sensitive and sustainable approach towards all its stakeholders, employees, consumers, partners and public alike.
Ecological sustainability
At Marmot we strive to minimize the impact we have on the environment whenever possible. EnviroFree is a Marmot initiative that looks to reduce chemical applications in the manufacturing process while maintaining or improving quality and performance of the raw materials and overall product.
- Reduction in the use of DWR finishes in Sportswear products where possible.
- PVC and Phthalate free inks in our printing process.
Our environmental protection policy is based on a measured and consistent approach to achieving greater sustainability. Our collections include more and more products that are made from recycled polyester, organic cotton and other environmentally friendly materials.
Our choice concerning the use of such materials is based on the following premise: If we can achieve the same level or a better level of product performance using sustainable fabrics, we will use them.
Marmot is bluesign® system partner. bluesign® system partners are committed to applying the bluesign® system which unites the entire textile supply chain to jointly reduce its impact on people and the environment. The Input Stream Management ensures that approved chemical products and raw materials are used in all steps of the manufacturing process. Substances posing risks to people and the environment are hence eliminated from the very beginning. On-site inspections verify the proper application of such chemical products and raw materials in controlled processes and ensure the responsible use of resources. For more information visit bluesign.com.
View products with bluesign® approved fabrics
All Marmot products that contain recycled polyester are labeled UpCycle®, because these products have been produced by turning a comparatively low-quality raw material, such as a plastic bottle, into a high-performance item of clothing e.g. a fleece.
Furthermore, Marmot uses environmental friendly materials throughout its in-house processes, such as environmental friendly printing paper.
Furthermore, the collection features a complete shirt line that is certified according to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). The GOTS is recognized as the world’s leading standard for the processing of textiles made from certified organic natural fibers. It defines binding criteria that guarantee the ecologically and socially sustainable production of textiles.
Companies that meet these criteria are permitted to label their products with the green-white GOTS logo. The label enables the end consumer to identify GOTS-certified products so that they can be assured that they are wearing a sustainably manufactured item of clothing.
Marmot Down Policy
As part of our policy for the humane treatment of animals, Marmot does not support the use of Down from live pluck or Foie Gras geese or ducks. Every year we require our suppliers to certify that they are in compliance with our animal rights policies.
Social Sustainability
Marmot’s social engagement complements its ecologic engagement. Fair trade, compliance with a code of conduct and the support of regional projects are part of the company concept. Marmot has confirmed its commitment to the principles of integrity, respect for the individual, sustainability, performance excellence and accountability.
Marmot holds all of its vendors and partners to the same high standards. The Vendor Compliance Policy obliges all of Marmot’s partners to respect internationally accepted standards of conduct. Among those are the payment of at least the minimum wage required by law, the limitation of overtime, the freedom of association, the prohibition of child labor and forced labor, the application of the non-discrimination principle as well as the promotion of health and safety at work.
Marmot takes the Vendor Compliance Policy seriously, its application is monitored regularly. It is Marmot’s firm intention that its vendor partners abide by these standards and ensure they understand Marmot’s intention to suspend business with those who violate this Vendor Compliance Policy. Marmot has been working for more than five years with 95 per cent of its partners, and this had resulted in a firm mutual trust and respect for each other.
On a regular basis, Marmot conducts audits among its vendors and partners in order to assure compliance with the Vendor Compliance Policy and promotes good practices. This process is evaluated constantly.
Furthermore, Marmot has been supporting social initiatives which have set out to change the world for a better future. Our social initiatives include the dZi Foundation, the Cancer Climber Association, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Chicks with Picks and many others.
Marmot Canada
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