C.C Filson in Seattle, Washington founded Filson in 1897 in the middle of the Klondike Gold Rush. Born in 1850, Clinton C. Filson inherited his father's love of the outdoors and his pioneer spirit. Before starting his namesake company, Clinton Filson spent some time homesteading in Nebraska and working as a railroad conductor across the country. By 1897, the Klondike Gold Rush was in full swing, and thousands of gold prospectors and fortune hunters were swarming into Seattle before heading north into the Yukon.
C.C. Filson's Pioneer Alaska and Blanket Manufacturers was open for business, and Mr. Filson dedicated himself to making durable and quality clothing and goods for the fortune hunters and gold prospectors headed north. Mr. Filson had a reputation for telling the truth and an incredible work ethic, but it was perhaps his years of experience running an outfitters store for loggers that most prepared him for his new venture.
During the time of the Klondike Gold Rush, clothing was not a matter of choice, but rather a matter of survival. The pioneers and prospectors often faced extreme conditions, and Mr. Filson specifically designed his clothing and goods for these extreme and harsh conditions. In his store in Seattle, Washington, Filson sold shoes, boots, sleeping bags and other goods that were designed to withstand the cold weather in the Yukon. He even had his own mill where he manufactured Mackinaw clothing and knit goods such as blankets.
Filson would often kept in contact with the pioneers who purchased his goods. He would even go so far as to improve and re-design his clothing and goods to meet whatever needs they had. Because of the harsh and extreme conditions of the North, the pioneers and prospectors would often depend on companies like Filson to help them survive.
After the Gold Rush ended, Filson had gained a solid base of customers and outdoorsmen that loved the company's rugged goods and clothes. C.C. Filson drew from his years of experience running a loggers outfitting store, and soon added a line of clothing for those who worked in the timber industry. One piece of clothing was the Filson Cruiser, named and designed by Mr. Filson. The Cruiser quickly became and has remained Filson's best-selling item, with over 500,000 jackets sold to date.
Filson was soon known for their excellent customer service and satisfaction, their reliability, and their honesty. If a customer came into his store in Seattle and Mr. Filson didn't carry an item they needed, he would make it for them. Mr. Filson also guaranteed all the merchandise and apparel he made, and continued to manufacture his goods using the best materials and practices available.
By the time of the 1960's, Filson clothing, goods, and apparel was stocked by the best retailers of outdoor wear all across the United States. Filson was in so much demand that it was being ordered by mail from locales such as Greenland. In 1985, Filson's main factory would move to Seattle, Washington's Pioneer Square, only 5 blocks from the company's original store that opened in 1897. The 90's brought additional change for Filson: fly fishing vests were introduced after 10 years of development, and Filson also re-introduced their luggage line.
Today, Filson is as much known for their line of classic bags and luggage as their outdoor apparel, and the company is still committed to making quality goods and apparel that are durable, long lasting, and stylish. The company's philosophy has always remained the same, which is to make sure everything they make is the absolute best. Filson started out by making goods and apparel for the pioneers of the Pacific Northwest, but have grown today into a company that offers a wide selection of clothing, goods, and accessories for a multitude of professions, activities and needs.
C.C. Filson's Pioneer Alaska and Blanket Manufacturers was open for business, and Mr. Filson dedicated himself to making durable and quality clothing and goods for the fortune hunters and gold prospectors headed north. Mr. Filson had a reputation for telling the truth and an incredible work ethic, but it was perhaps his years of experience running an outfitters store for loggers that most prepared him for his new venture.
During the time of the Klondike Gold Rush, clothing was not a matter of choice, but rather a matter of survival. The pioneers and prospectors often faced extreme conditions, and Mr. Filson specifically designed his clothing and goods for these extreme and harsh conditions. In his store in Seattle, Washington, Filson sold shoes, boots, sleeping bags and other goods that were designed to withstand the cold weather in the Yukon. He even had his own mill where he manufactured Mackinaw clothing and knit goods such as blankets.
Filson would often kept in contact with the pioneers who purchased his goods. He would even go so far as to improve and re-design his clothing and goods to meet whatever needs they had. Because of the harsh and extreme conditions of the North, the pioneers and prospectors would often depend on companies like Filson to help them survive.
After the Gold Rush ended, Filson had gained a solid base of customers and outdoorsmen that loved the company's rugged goods and clothes. C.C. Filson drew from his years of experience running a loggers outfitting store, and soon added a line of clothing for those who worked in the timber industry. One piece of clothing was the Filson Cruiser, named and designed by Mr. Filson. The Cruiser quickly became and has remained Filson's best-selling item, with over 500,000 jackets sold to date.
Filson was soon known for their excellent customer service and satisfaction, their reliability, and their honesty. If a customer came into his store in Seattle and Mr. Filson didn't carry an item they needed, he would make it for them. Mr. Filson also guaranteed all the merchandise and apparel he made, and continued to manufacture his goods using the best materials and practices available.
By the time of the 1960's, Filson clothing, goods, and apparel was stocked by the best retailers of outdoor wear all across the United States. Filson was in so much demand that it was being ordered by mail from locales such as Greenland. In 1985, Filson's main factory would move to Seattle, Washington's Pioneer Square, only 5 blocks from the company's original store that opened in 1897. The 90's brought additional change for Filson: fly fishing vests were introduced after 10 years of development, and Filson also re-introduced their luggage line.
Today, Filson is as much known for their line of classic bags and luggage as their outdoor apparel, and the company is still committed to making quality goods and apparel that are durable, long lasting, and stylish. The company's philosophy has always remained the same, which is to make sure everything they make is the absolute best. Filson started out by making goods and apparel for the pioneers of the Pacific Northwest, but have grown today into a company that offers a wide selection of clothing, goods, and accessories for a multitude of professions, activities and needs.
About the Author:
Robert Greenfield is a writer who specializes in fashion and style. You can visit his newest site here, where he provides reviews and info on Filson Bags & Luggage, including additional information on how a Filson bag is made.
