In light of the nasty summer we're having here in the desert, it might be a little, well, presumptuous to write about outerwear. On the other hand, you know the local mantra: If you can't take the summer heat, you don't deserve the rest of the year. At any rate, we locals sneeze at anything below 100 degrees, and below 80 requires a sweater. So, with that as an excuse, let's talk about one of the classic American outerwear makers that's been around since 1897: Filson.
The company's eponymous founder was C.C. Filson, an Ohio native born at the midpoint of the 19th century. The first 40 years of his life were eventful, if not remarkable. They included a move to Nebraska, time spent working on various railroads, a toe dip into politics and a marriage
to Winnifred in 1887. He also enjoyed some success in business, first with a hotel venture and later with two general stores. Filson was ambitious, however, and kept his ear to the ground in search of bigger things. When the Yukon gold rush began in western Canada in 1896, he was quick to act.
Within a year, he had opened the first Filson store in Seattle, the jumping off point for many seeking their fortune in gold. Recognizing the challenges of Canadian weather, he specialized in unusually rugged gear and clothing and backed it up with a satisfaction guarantee — unusual for the time.
A few years later, Filson found another market in the nascent logging industry, and in 1914 created what became one of the first shirts to earn a United States patent. Known as the Cruiser, the heavy wool garment was covered with pockets and featured a unique double-layer back that provided storage for maps and other implements.
Before long, the U.S. Forest Service came calling and by the mid-1920s was using Filson as its principal supplier of field clothing, from jackets and pants on the outside to socks and underwear on the inside. To this day, Filson apparel remains a staple of USFS uniforms.
Having established a steady stable of business, Filson took to expanding in the 1980s and '90s, introducing heavy-duty bags and luggage that utilized thick cotton twill with saddle leather reinforcements. Consumers, especially those with appetites for extreme conditions, lapped it up.
Unlike so many flash-in-the-pan brands, Filson has grown carefully with new stores in selective locations and cautious additions to its product line-up. It remains where it started on First Avenue in Seattle and has created a conservation-oriented network of partnerships and social initiatives. Filson goods are not fancy and not cheap, but there's a lot to like in their traditional line-up. And if you're planning a trip to the end of the earth anytime soon, you might want to stock up.
Mike Rivkin is the former proprietor of Antique Galleries of Palm Springs. His new venture will open later this fall. Contact him at scmcorp@sbcglobal.net.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Temps below 80? Beat back the cold with Filson
