Filson
FILSON Brand Shop
Since 1897, Filson has stood for indestructible quality and functionality - manufactured for the toughest conditions and made to last for generations.
Clinton C. Filson, a former settler from Nebraska who worked as a railway conductor for some time, was in the right place at the right time. After his business failed in Kirkland, Washington, he moved to Seattle to start a logging equipment business.
The Klondike phase
Thousands of prospectors passed through Seattle on their way north, as gold discoveries on the Klondike River, a tributary of the Yukon, attracted countless gold seekers to the city. Clinton.C.Filson had already been trading in equipment for lumberjacks for several years at this time. He didn't just sell equipment - he was known for listening carefully to his customers. He took his customers' suggestions seriously and integrated their wishes and ideas into the development and optimisation of his products
The gold rush brought Filson thousands of new customers and so he founded his company "C.C. Filson's Pioneer Alaska Clothing and Blanket Manufacturers" in 1897. At that time, the small company supplied gold prospectors with a wide range of equipment such as clothing, blankets, sleeping bags and boots. To this end, he ran his own textile factory and produced equipment and clothing specially designed for use in the icy north.
The time after the gold rush
Filson was always in close contact with its customers and continuously adapted its range to their needs and demands. The products were developed specifically to meet the practical requirements of outdoor adventures, and Filson always responded to the wishes of its customers. The result was a brand that not only relied on tradition, but also reacted flexibly to the market and created products that were characterised by their functionality and durability. Continuing to focus on high quality, Filson expanded its target group after the end of the gold rush in 1899 to include those who were looking for robust and comfortable equipment for their outdoor activities: Hunters, fishermen, miners, engineers, lumberjacks, explorers and discoverers. Here he was able to draw on his previous experience in equipping gold prospectors and lumberjacks. C.C. Filson's quality claim is quoted in the 1914 catalogue:
"The goods we offer must not be confused with the cheap and far inferior quality with which the market is flooded. Such goods are not only useless for the purpose for which they are intended, but the person wearing them would be better off without them."
Filson uncompromisingly pursues the highest quality standards to create products that can withstand the toughest conditions. The manufacturer uses innovative technologies such as impregnated tin cloth, which is given a special wax treatment to make the material water-repellent and particularly hard-wearing. The Mackinaw Wool is also manufactured using special processes that not only keep it warm, but also make it resistant to abrasion and extreme weather conditions. These materials are carefully selected to withstand the extreme demands of outdoor and working conditions, while craftsmanship and precision finishing ensure that each product is exceptionally durable. This unyielding dedication to robustness and quality makes Filson a unique brand, renowned for its longevity and resilience.
Global triumph
Filson began its international success after the company modernised its production and distribution to meet the growing global demand for durable outdoor equipment. In particular, the quality standards and robust workmanship of the products were also recognised in international markets, especially in Europe and Asia. The Filson brand increasingly established itself as a premium supplier of outdoor clothing and equipment.
Products
Jackets
A well-known Filson jacket is certainly the legendary Filson Mackinaw Cruiser. Filson has been producing these almost unchanged for over 100 years! But the water-repellent Field Jacket made of tin cloth with its additional zip-in jackets is also typical of Filson.
Shirts, jumpers & shirts
Filson shirts made from high-quality flannel are also designed to offer the wearer optimum comfort for outdoor use. The soft jumpers made from Geelong lambswool are partly produced in Scotland and are lightweight yet warm and cosy to the touch. A Filson shirt is classically double-stitched and is characterised by durability, functionality and a comfortable fit.
Waistcoats
Whether as a work waistcoat or a pure outdoor waistcoat: Filson waistcoats are versatile. The often casual cuts provide the necessary freedom of movement and do not restrict the wearer. Depending on the use, waistcoats are available in tin cloth, wool or quilted with thermal insulation.
Bags
Filson bags have also become extremely popular in Germany in recent years. Whether laptop bags or briefcases made of leather, duffle bags - i.e. travelling bags - made of rugged twill, tin cloth or nylon. The Filson backpack is also made of rugged twill, tin cloth or nylon.
Hats & caps
Hats and caps have also been developed by Filson with the aim of providing comfortable protection. There are hats made of virgin wool with strikingly visible signal orange, warm lumberjack hats made of Mackinaw virgin wool or the classic tin packer hat - made of tin cloth.
Accessories
An abrasion-resistant rifle bag made of rugged twill for transporting the rifle for hunting, soft work gloves made of deerskin or the robust apron. Filson has listened to its customers and developed products to meet their requirements wherever useful extensions to the clothing and bag products have been found.
The aspirations of its founder have never changed at Filson. And why should it: comfort, protection and durability never go out of fashion.
MATERIALS
The best materials are the starting point for Filson's high-quality products.
The classic product lines are made from cotton fabrics, some of which are waxed. Waxed cotton canvas is known as tin cloth: Tin Cloth. This term was used to recognise the fact that the material used by Filson made the clothing even more resistant. In addition to the typical tin cloth, Filson also became known for the use of Mackinaw wool. This is a dense and water-repellent woollen cloth.
More recently, Filson has also adopted newer materials. Filson Dryden, for example, is a nylon material that is robust, extremely durable and also waterproof. The zips in Filson products are produced especially for Filson by YKK.
Colour worlds
Filson uses a classic and muted colour palette for most of its products. Many products are available in tan, dark tan, otter green, navy or dark navy. The only classic coloured garment is the Filson Mackinaw Wool Cruiser in red/black plaid. Newer bags and jumpers are also available in burgundy or hemlock.
