Founder Clinton C. Filson Products LuggageApparel Type Privately held company | Area served Worldwide CEO Steve Bock (2016–) Founded Seattle | |
Industry Luggage manufacturingClothing manufacturingRetailWholesale Predecessor C.C. Filson's Pioneer Alaska Clothing and Blanket Manufacturers Number of locations 10 company-operated stores and 3 manufacturing locations Profiles | ||
C.C. Filson is a Seattle, Washington,-based, privately owned outfitter and manufacturer of goods for outdoor enthusiasts. The company 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 owns Shinola.
Contents
Early history
Clinton C. Filson (born 1850), a former Nebraska homesteader and railroad conductor, moved to Seattle, Washington in the 1890s, where he operated a small loggers' outfitting store. 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. 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.
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.
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. 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. In 2006, Filson made Bill Kulczycki, a former Patagonia executive, CEO. In 2010, Mark A. Korros became CEO.
In 2012 Brentwood Associates sold Filson Holdings, Inc. to Dallas-based Bedrock Manufacturing Co. for an undisclosed amount. 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.
The current Filson president is Gray Madden, who is leading the charge on the construction of a brand-new 6,000-square-foot flagship store in its current headquarters at 1741 First Ave. S. in Seattle. When customers enter the building they will see workers manufacturing Filson's luggage products on the first floor. The store on the second floor will have clear glass doors that will showcase office space where the company's creative teams are coming up with the next big idea.
Retail locations
In addition to the company's retail website, Filson products are available for sale at Flagship stores in Seattle, Minneapolis, New York, Austin, Portland, Washington DC, London, Dallas, San Francisco, Plano, and Detroit. Filson will open its first Canadian location this March in Vancouver. Each is located in affluent shopping districts and neighborhoods.
Outlet stores are located in Eagen, Minnesota and Burlington, Washington.
Modern product line
In 1991, Filson revived its line of bridle leather-trimmed canvas luggage. In 1998, Filson opened a flagship retail store near Seattle's Safeco Field. In 2008, Filson introduced a line of women's clothing. In 2010, Filson partnered with Levi Strauss & Co. to produce a collection of jackets, shirts, caps and bags called "Levi’s Workwear by Filson."