Carrie Childs
Design Director, Patagonia

From our conversation

“ How, as designers, can we inspire ourselves and our customers and our community at large to live as respectfully on this Earth as possible? How can we build quality, beautiful products that inspire people to simplify their lives and want less?”

Biography

Carrie Childs is Design Director at Patagonia, where she leads the Lifestyle, Kids & Workwear apparel teams as they challenge an extractive consumer system through high‑quality, innovative product solutions that regenerate the earth. A passionate advocate for regenerative organic agriculture, herbalism and gardening, Carrie serves on the board of Farmhand Foundation, a nonprofit helping Southern California farmers transition to organic and regenerative practices. She holds an MFA in Fashion Design with an emphasis on sustainability from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

Earth is Patagonia’s only shareholder. Read Patagonia’s 2025 Work in Progress Report to learn more about the company’s progress and challenges.

Interview

Regeneration as a North Star for How We Live: Carrie Childs
In this conversation, Carrie shares her excitement for regenerating how we work, design and live—from Patagonia's trailblazing collaboration on the Regenerative Organic Alliance to her own love for garments that get better with age. She reflects on the hard truths and authenticity in Patagonia’s 2025 report, celebrating the power of transparency and starting conversations. With an inspiring message to the design community, Carrie frames garment creation as an opportunity to align creative practices with the needs of people and planet.