If you’ve ever worn or used a Patagonia product — a flannel, a jacket, a duffel bag, etc. — it was first conceived in what the brand calls “The Forge.” It’s a huge gear, apparel, and outerwear laboratory where Patagonia designs and develops every single one of its products. And it’s managed by Nelle Smith.
Smith has been involved with the Forge since 2016. She started out as a sewing technician, and has worked her way up to become the “Mother of the Forge” — or, as her LinkedIn page describes, an ARD Prototype Engineer. As she describes, she went from being a “sewing technician to being a people technician.”
Follow Smith as she gives us a peek inside Patagonia’s Forge, to talk about where the products are made, what goes into them, and the people she works with.
Runtime: 1.5 minutes
