Filson (company)

C.C. Filson Co.
Company typePrivate
Industry
  • Luggage manufacturing
  • Clothing manufacturing
  • Retail
  • Wholesale
PredecessorC.C. Filson's Pioneer Alaska Clothing and Blanket Manufacturers
Founded1897; 128 years ago (1897)
FounderClinton C. Filson
Headquarters
Seattle, Washington
,
United States
Number of locations
15 company-operated stores and 2 manufacturing locations
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Paolo Corinaldesi
(CEO)
Products
  • Luggage
  • Apparel
Services
  • Clothing repair
  • Clothing rewaxing
ParentBedrock Manufacturing Co.
Websitefilson.com

C.C. Filson is an American privately owned outfitter and manufacturer of goods for outdoor enthusiasts. The company, based in Seattle, Washington, designs, manufactures, distributes and sells men's and women's outdoor clothing, accessories and luggage. Filson sells its products via company-owned retail stores, catalogs and the Filson website as well as through authorized dealers in the United States and international distributors. The company was originally established in Seattle in 1897 as C.C. Filson's Pioneer Alaska Clothing and Blanket Manufacturers to meet the needs of prospectors passing through Seattle on their way to the Klondike Gold Rush; as of 2012 the brand is owned by Fossil Group founder Tom Kartsotis, who also created Shinola Detroit.[1]

Early history

C.C. Filson, c.1917

Clinton C. Filson (born 1850), a former Nebraska homesteader and railroad conductor for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, arrived in the Northwest in the early 1890s, initially settling in Kirkland, Washington where he invested in property near Peter Kirk's proposed iron works and opened a hardware store in a brick building he co-owned with Seattle customs inspector A.T. Timmerman. He would also serve as the town's postmaster in 1894.[2] Two years later after Kirkland's plans fell through he relocated to Seattle where he operated a small loggers' outfitting store, the Seattle Woolen House, at 903 1st Avenue, where the Federal Office Building currently stands.[3]

To meet the needs of prospectors passing through Seattle on their way to the Klondike Gold Rush, C.C. Filson founded C.C. Filson's Pioneer Alaska Clothing and Blanket Manufacturers in 1897.[4] The company supplied prospectors with a variety of outdoor gear including clothing, blankets, boots and sleeping bags. After the gold rush ended around 1899, Filson shifted to providing gear for outdoor oriented activities and occupations including hunting, fishing and logging, among others.[5] Never having retired, Filson passed away in December 1919 and ownership of the company was handed over to his widow Winifred and nephew George Stroble.[6][7]

Ownership and leadership

Filson remained under the control of the Filson family until 1970, when they sold their interest to a former distributor of Filson products to independent dealers in Alaska. Stan Kohls, a skiwear entrepreneur, purchased the company in 1981. Kohls expanded the product line from 35 items to 250 items, drawing from the company's archive or designing each new item himself. Kohls attempted to preserve the authenticity of the products by not using modern materials like Velcro.[4][8]

On January 1, 2005, Los Angeles, California-based private equity group Brentwood Associates and former Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation executive Doug Williams acquired C.C. Filson, with Kohls maintaining a minority ownership interest and a seat on the board. Brentwood Associates and Williams renamed the company Filson Holdings and named Williams the Chief Executive Officer.[4][8][9][10] Williams hoped to expand the brand's sales by introducing casual wear and selling to new customers based on Filson's reputation for ruggedness and quality.[4] In 2006, Filson made Bill Kulczycki, a former Patagonia executive, CEO.[11] In 2010, Mark A. Korros became CEO.[12]

In 2012, Brentwood Associates sold Filson Holdings, Inc. to Dallas-based Bedrock Manufacturing Co. for an undisclosed amount.[13][14] Alan Kirk was appointed CEO of Filson in 2013. In June 2013, the company opened an extensive new manufacturing facility on 1st Avenue South in Seattle's manufacturing district, more than doubling capacity and by year end, more than 100 new jobs were created in production. The company now manufactures luggage, apparel and accessories in three company-owned locations in the USA.

Former CEO Steve Bock[15] left the company in early 2019, and was replaced by Rollen Jones. Following Jones' move in the following year to his current role as CFO and a brief interim return by Bock, former global strategist Paolo Corinaldesi of international retail group WP Lavori was appointed to the position, and is the standing CEO.[16][17]

Under current leadership, Filson has made organizational changes to streamline its business and be more efficient, including a decision to reduce positions in its Seattle and Kent manufacturing facilities and shift more production overseas. The company continues manufacturing heritage styles in its Washington facilities.[18]

Retail locations

In addition to the company's retail website, Filson features flagship locations in Seattle, Washington, and Union Square, New York City, as well as brick-and-mortar stores in Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; Plano, Texas; Edina, Minnesota; Boston, Massachusetts Washington, D.C.; Ballard, Seattle; and Naperville, Illinois. Outside the US, there are stores in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Filson maintains one outlet store, located in Eagan, Minnesota.

Modern product line

In 1991, Filson revived its line of bridle leather-trimmed canvas luggage.[5] In 1998, Filson opened a flagship retail store near Seattle's Safeco Field. In 2008, Filson introduced a line of women's clothing.[9] In 2010, Filson partnered with Levi Strauss & Co. to produce a collection of jackets, shirts, caps and bags called "Levi's Workwear by Filson."[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ Stacy Perman, "The Real History of America's Most Authentic Fake Brand", Inc. magazine, p. 106, April 2016.
  2. ^ "Washington and Oregon Postoffices". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. 2 Feb 1894. p. 1. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Alaska-Klondike Wants - Seattle Woolen House [Advertsisement]". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. 10 Dec 1899. p. 23. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Bourjaily, Phil (October 1, 2005). "Fear of Fashion". CNN Money. Cable News Network. OCLC 727236465. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Clinton C. Filson founded the company in 1897 to outfit prospectors headed for the Klondike....Williams is betting that people who own Filson hunting clothes will also buy Filson casual wear and that others will discover the brand as they learn of its reputation for ruggedness and quality.
  5. ^ a b "Filson's History". Filson. C.C. Filson Co. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013. The Gold Rush faded into history, but Filson kept listening to his customers, and outdoorsmen kept coming to Filson for rugged clothes. Drawing from his past experience outfitting loggers, he soon added clothing for the timber industry...
  6. ^ "Pioneer Dies After Long Life in City". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Library of Congress: Chronicling American. 24 Dec 1919. p. 5.
  7. ^ "Seattle Merchant Dies". The Seattle Daily Times. Newsbank. 22 Dec 1919. p. 8.
  8. ^ a b Pemberton, Jeff (May 15, 2006). "A Wilton Hunter and Fisherman Finds His Dream Job". Wilton Online. Mill River Media Group. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013. By 1980, the company was down to about 35 styles. The family was involved until the 1970s, when it went through another management and, in 1981, it was sold to Stan Kohls, who came out of the ski industry. He saw that many of the great heritage products were gone, and went through the archives, pulling out the old designs. That started the resurrection of Filson. From 1981 until 2004, Kohls ran the company.
  9. ^ a b Martinez, Amy (February 21, 2008). "Filson Introduces Outdoor Clothing for Women". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. OCLC 61313571. Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2012. For the first time in Filson's 111-year history, the Seattle manufacturer and retailer of outdoor clothing is introducing a line of women's apparel for fishing, hunting and other activities.
  10. ^ Fischer, John. "Filson Sold to Former Polo Exec". MultiChannel Merchant. Access Intelligence. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Former Polo group president Doug Williams and Brentwood Associates bought Filson on Jan. 1 from Stan Kohls, who has owned it since 1981. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
  11. ^ "Another Downtown Seattle Apartment Building Is Going Condo". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. October 4, 2006. Business Digest. ISSN 0745-9696. OCLC 9198928. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Filson Holdings said it hired former Patagonia executive Bill Kulczycki to run its outdoor apparel company, C.C. Filson.
  12. ^ "Filson Names Korros New CEO". Puget Sound Business Journal. American City Business Journals. October 14, 2010. ISSN 8750-7757. OCLC 321260598. Archived from the original on October 1, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Outdoor apparel company Filson has named Mark Korros its new CEO and president. Korros replaces Bill Kulczycki at Seattle-based Filson.
  13. ^ Sheff, Harry (June 5, 2012). "Bedrock Manufacturing Acquires Filson". Mrketplace. Business Journals. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2013. Outdoor heritage brand Filson has been acquired by Dallas-based Bedrock Manufacturing Co. for an undisclosed amount. The sale was announced today by Filson's previous owner, the private equity group Brentwood Associates.
  14. ^ "Brentwood Associates Announces Sale of Filson Holdings" (Press release). Los Angeles, California: Brentwood Associates. June 5, 2012. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2013. Brentwood Associates ("Brentwood"), a leading consumer-focused private equity investment firm, announced it has completed the sale of Filson Holdings, Inc. ("Filson"), one of the oldest American brands of premium outdoor apparel and accessories, to Bedrock Manufacturing Co. ("Bedrock"). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
  15. ^ "Seattle DJC.com local business news and data - Real Estate - Real Estate Buzz: Filson wants to show off how it works". www.djc.com. Retrieved 2015-09-01.
  16. ^ "Filson Taps Paolo Corinaldesi as CEO". 5 January 2021.
  17. ^ "Outdoor Outfitter and Apparel Manufacturer Filson Appoints Paolo Corinaldesi as Chief Executive Officer | Textile World". 5 January 2021.
  18. ^ Roberts, Paul (14 August 2021). "As Filson confirms more local layoffs, a potential new strategy emerges". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Filson Signs Clothing Deal with Levi's". Puget Sound Business Journal. American City Business Journals. August 3, 2010. ISSN 8750-7757. OCLC 321260598. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2012. Filson said it's signed a deal with Levi's to sell a line of clothing called "Levi's Workwear by Filson....Filson said that each Levi's-branded product will be made in its Seattle factory.