Filson

[hossoso]

I am not certain if anyone here wears their clothes but my family has a long history with Filson. For around 100 years they have made fine clothing in Seattle but in the past several years they have moved their production overseas. I do not want to pass judgment on them too harshly out of devotion and heritage but a few of their made in Hong Kong or Macau jackets I bought a couple of years ago are not holding up as well as similar items made at their production facility on 4th Ave Seattle almost 20 years ago. I am not bemoaning Filson's decision to move production overseas, I understand that, and I do not want them to close but I wish they would not reliquish quality control and throw away a community identity/credibility that was hard earned. The local buyers disatisfaction has likely gone unnoticed by Filson due to their recent popularity and write-ups in GQ and Newsweek but, to add insult to injury, at the same time they moved production to cheaper facilities, they raised prices. This may be due to the economy, it may be due to the fact that they can get away with it. Something doesn't add up.

Does your city have any venerable clothing institutions? Have they compromised?

 

[yerfdog]

My brother and I just inherited a couple of Filson work jackets that had belonged to my grandfather that my grandmother was going to otherwise get rid of.

I don't have experience with the new stuff, but I will agree the stuff from 30-40 years ago was pretty amazingly tough.

 

[RTW]

Within the last 2 years or so, Filson started a new line (Lodge?) which is manufactured overseas.
However, Filson still manufactures clothing in the US.

Here's an informative article from the Seattle Times:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...overstory.html

 

[josepidal]

Indeed, I was underwhelmed (after reading good reviews here) in a Filson store in a mall, by the leather jackets with "made in China" tags.

 

[j]

I can't believe I've never gone in that store. I will try to check it out ASAP. I have a pair of wool cavalry twill pants that were handed down from my late uncle and may have belonged to my grandfather before him... they show no signs of ever dying.

 

[Droog]

I check their web site periodically but have stayed away because of the overseas sources. This is a general rule of thumb for me with some exceptions (as when I can personally inspect the merchandise or get advice to the contrary). From the above, glad I've done this with with Filson.

 

[romafan]

Agreed - the 'old' stuff was indestuctible (and looked good, IMO, for what it was - utilitarian outdoor gear). The Lodge line doesn't cut it for me, and not surprisingly, has already started to appear in STP....

 

[Kasper]

I was in a Waffle House in Dayton Ohio late last year and got in a conversation with an old timer at the counter after I commented on how I liked his hunting jacket. He said it was a Filson and then started getting angry because he found out that an executive from "Ralph Laurent" bought the company and sent all the clothing to be made overseas.

I just looked up the information now after reading this thread:

http://multichannelmerchant.com/news...n_sold_former/

 

[soultek]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-FILSON-T...QQcmdZViewItem

cool

 

[romafan]

Originally Posted by soultek

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-FILSON-T...QQcmdZViewItem

cool

Just look at those things - awesome. Would you look like a tool wearing them around town? Absolutely. Would you want to be wearing anything else on a wet, sleety, 30 degree day as you worked for seven hours in the woods cutting logs and splitting firewood? Nope...