Richard Pyne: Custodian of Páramo

This week's Cool Conversation is between Kenton and Richard Pyne, CEO of British clothing brand Páramo. Right from the offset, we understand that Páramo is unique: Richard describes himself as the Custodian of the brand, rather than the CEO; he tells us that the company is employee-owned; he tells us they have been repairing garments for customers for 30 years, whilst most others have only recently started to offer this; and he tells us that they designed their products by mimicking mammals - how does an otter stay dry and warm, even when his fur is soaked through? Most remarkable of all, Richard explains how the brand got its name from a range of mountains in the Andes and how the unlikely pairing of a nun and an entrepreneur has created untold opportunities for women and families in Colombia. This is the story of a brand that holds on tight to its values, that lobbies much bigger industry players to contribute to the circular economy, and that cares about people.