Hats off to Patagonia, who was honored with a 2005 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award. The Corporate Achievement Award was given to Yvon Chouinard & Co. because their "commitment to innovation, design, and performance is matched by its devotion to environmental and social causes." More specifically, the award was bestowed for Patagonia's innovative use of fabrics containing recycled materials, as well as recycling scraps before they hit the cutting room floor, and harnessing wind for fuel and power. The National Design Awards were conceived in 1997 by the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum to honor the best in American design. First launched in 2000, the annual Awards program celebrates design in various disciplines, and seeks to increase national awareness of design by educating the public and promoting excellence, innovation, and lasting achievement. ::National Design Awards

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