Paramo Celebrates 30th Birthday At Slide & OTS

Páramo turns 30 on the 22 April this year, with birthday celebrations beginning at Slide & OTS (Stand D10) for the award-winning, ethically manufactured, high performance clothing and accessories brand and will continue throughout this year.

Back in 1986 garment prototypes were tested to their limits by their founder Nick Brown on a trip to the Colombian Andes. Six years later, Páramo was born when Nick met with Sister Esther Castaño Mejia, who was running a small sewing workshop, offering practical help to women rescued from the streets of Bogotá, Colombia. Working together, the production of Páramo garments began with the Miquelina Foundation Since 1992 the two companies have grown together and are now cementing the relationship for the future. In January, Páramo integrated the management of the Miquelina factory into its business, ensuring a production partnership that will take them on a new and exciting journey.

At the show, the Páramo team highlighted the brand’s key milestones over the past 30 years, outlined below, whilst also launching the findings of its first sustainability report and announcing the brand’s intentions over the next three years.

Páramo has picked up numerous awards for its sustainability and ethics and has a clear vision to continue its positive impact on people and the planet. The goals set for 2025, are based on seven clear fields of action: Páramo People, Partnerships, Climate Action, Conservation, Circularity, Ethics and Fairness and Detox Outdoor. For the full report, please visit https://www.paramo-clothing.com/en-gb/ourethics/sustainability.php.

30 years of Páramo

• 1992: Páramo was born and production at Miquelina in Colombia commences.
• 1999: Paramo’s workshop is established at its sister brand, Nikwax’s head office in East Sussex, enabling the repair and alteration of Páramo garments.
• 2002: Miquelina attains ISO 9001 accreditation.
• 2006: The partnership with ‘Trees for Life’ begins - rewilding the Scottish Highlands.
• 2007: Páramo and Nikwax launch their carbon balancing initiative, working with the World Land Trust to offset all their operational carbon emissions.
• 2010: Páramo awarded the Best Buy award by the Ethical Consumer magazine.
• 2012: Páramo’s recycling scheme is launched helping to save garments from landfill and providing a safe route for the disposal of unwanted garments.
• 2014: All production of Páramo garments from this point are guaranteed PFC-free.
• 2016: Páramo becomes the first outdoor company to sign up to the Greenpeace Detox commitment and is awarded The Guardian `Sustainable Business Award` in the ‘Bold Move’ category
• 2017: Miquelina attains guaranteed Fair Trade status from the World Fair Trade Organization.
• 2021: A year of awards for the brand as Páramo receives recognition from the readers of Which? Magazine and picks up GOLD in the TGO Magazine Readers Awards for ‘outdoor clothing and equipment brand or the year’, securing 50% of the public vote and classed as ‘the brand of the century’ with its sustainability, ethics, customer service and performance highly praised.
• 2022: Páramo and Miquelina turn 30 and together launch their sustainability roadmap with a clear vision for the future.