filson - rugged quality for over 100 years. born in 1850, c. c. filson inherited his father's pioneer spirit and love of the outdoors. after homesteading in nebraska and roaming the country as a railroad conductor, he moved to the small city of seattle, washington in the 1890's. filson's timing couldn't have been better. by 1897, the great klondike gold rush was on, and thousands of fortune hunters were stampeding into seattle, headed north. armed with a strong work ethic, a reputation for honesty, and several years' experience operating a small loggers' outfitting store, c. c. filson was ready to stake his claim to fame.

in 1897, filson opened c.c. filson's pioneer alaska clothing and blanket manufacturers, specializing in goods to outfit the stampeders to the klondike gold rush. stories of harrowing experiences in the yukon were widely reported and it was for such terrible conditions that filson designed his goods. he owned his own mill and manufactured mackinaw clothing, mackinaw blankets and knit goods, as well as selling boots, shoes, moccasins and sleeping bags specially designed for the frigid north. filson kept in close contact with his customers, improving his goods to meet their specific needs. the stampeders depended on filson. in that era, clothing wasn't a matter of choice, but of survival.

even after the gold rush faded into history, filson continued to make his goods from the best materials obtainable, and guaranteed every piece of merchandise. filson's name became synonymous with reliability, satisfaction and honest values. by the 1960s, filson's reputation as the premier outfitter for outdoorsmen had spread around the globe. in addition to being stocked by retailers of quality outdoor wear, filson garments were being ordered by mail from places as far away as greenland.

over the years, filson's philosophy has never changed: make sure it's the absolute best. clinton filson spent a lot of time talking to his customers and refining his designs to their specifications. so it's not surprising that the items that worked then still work today, over 100 years later. comfort, protection and durability never go out of style. filson goods still made in the united states, and are now available at still life.