The Filson Thread

In Filson I have:
Forest green Mackinaw
Uplander boots/Made in USA
Bridle leather briefcase
Bridle leather sunglass holder
Bridle leather pen holder
Oiled field jacket
Brown wool vest
Red suspenders
Wool shirt

The fellow that resurrected the Filson company sold out to a holding company that controls Ralph Lauren among other things. He was put on the Board but first the shirts started to be made off shore, they introduced a lot of yuppie type gear and now it appears Filson is gradually working its way through the catalog. Much of the Tin cloth and Mac's are still made in the USA but I believe that will not last. The problem is that with off shore manufacturing costs lower, Filson continued to charge the same prices as for US made goods, instant improvement on the bottom line.
So when purchasing Filson, you have to be extremely careful in ascertaining where manufactured if that makes any difference to you.
All my Filson gear is US made so far, or at least i believe so!
I may have a lightweight shirt or two that i purchased from eBay at a reasonable price. -Dick

All my Filson gear is made in the US, according to the labels.

I hadn't been aware of the change in ownership and its implications - thanks Dick. That's not particularly good news.

I've seen goods made to stringent specs in China that were the equal of US and European predecessors. For example, I've read numerous consumer reviews of Vasque Sundowner boots stating that quality decreased markedly after production was shifted from Italy to China. However, I have two pairs - one Italian and one newer Chinese - and can't correlate those remarks with my observations at all - the newer pair seems made of equally thick leather, with small improvements to fit and construction, and so far equally durable. On the other hand, I've seen products go markedly downhill when outsourced. It all depends.

Not to get political, but I think it can't be healthy for our country to become a nation of ravenous consumers while producing very little in the way of material goods. I'm concerned about long-term implications and try to buy US products when quality and availability permits. Sadly, that's becoming an increasingly infrequent option regardless of what we're willing to pay.

- Bill

I wouldn't buy any Filson product that was "imported". Not to say that it isn't the same quality, but I would go vintage at that point...real shame to see what has happened to the USA.

Here's a brief recap of what went down by Melissa Allison and Amy Martinez
Seattle Times business reporters, 2007
:

After Filson was purchased by Brentwood Associates in January 2005, the Los Angeles investment firm hired former Polo Ralph Lauren executive Doug Williams to run the company. Under his direction, Filson introduced a casual sportswear collection for men called The Lodge line, replete with Henley sweaters and wool-cotton blend shirts. Backed by a national advertising campaign, the company announced plans for an aggressive store rollout to bring the mostly catalog and wholesale business face-to-face with consumers. Kulczycki, who spent 17 years at Patagonia, the last seven as vice president of business development at Patagonia International, said the line didn't resonate with customers because it lacked the functionality they demand. In response, the company brought in Kulczycki for his experience with another outdoor apparel brand. Williams remains chairman of the company's board. Filson said it would scale down its casual sportswear line, offering shirts with stronger fabrics and functionality, such as shirt pockets useful for fisherman and hunters. The company also plans to launch a Filson women's clothing line, due in spring 2008. For a retailer with the motto "Might as Well Have the Best," its challenge now will be to return to its 110-year-old promise.

I live in Seattle so get a chance to get down to the Filson Flagship HQ every so often esp for the sales. IMO the new offerings lack substance esp the lightweight luggage line -- cheaper less durable materials but still high Filson dollar. One item they introduced was a Halsey leather jacket for $600+ . . .and it fell flat of course (you could have an Eastman or Aero for that!) . . .They couldn't even move them on sale for $200 cuz the quality was poor. . . .It all reminds me of inferior Bauer, Orvis, Peterman, and post W&G Land's End gear where the marketing spin is more important than the quality of the gear. Filson's core line of heavy duty wool and cotton made in Seattle is great stuff -- simple, durable and yah kinda boring but it's well built and works . . year after year . . .

My wish is that they would introduce some WW2 pattern garments but with Filson materials. They came close to a US tanker jkt with the Big Creek jacket. A tin cloth M42 para jacket would ideal! You get the idea. Oh well I only own and use/modify the US made stuff.

CodeRed said:

I wouldn't buy any Filson product that was "imported". Not to say that it isn't the same quality, but I would go vintage at that point...real shame to see what has happened to the USA.

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Yup. A shame, and we will regret this soon.

Not to get to political but I'm honestly hoping that some of the few high quality clothing manufacturers will rethink their outsourcing methods. It's just such a long list of people who have become disappointing. LL Bean, Lands End, Patagonia, Hunter, and North Face are all companies that once had such sterling reputations that are to my mind pale imitations.

Now that we have American made Red Wing GTs, Wolverine 1000 mile, and a few other "heritage" lines I'd been hoping that Filson, as one of the last, wouldn't dilute and then destroy the brand. It's not even so much the being built overseas but the reality that whoever is making the item just doesn't care. I like to think (or at least pretend) that if I'm buying something from some with a nice long-history that they have some pride of craftsmanship. That to me is worth the higher cost. I don't care about brand but I truly care about that.

I hope Filson reverses course and keeps production in the USA. I will pay (a lot) more for superior quality domestic goods. Also I tell anybody who'll listen to buy American made Filson so the company gets free advertising.
But if the classics get outsourced to Asia and the like, color me gone. Are you listening Filson?

America needs to produce something besides political rhetoric and bad television.

I am sorry, I am skating very close to politics but I have to stress that outsourced manufacturing does not automatically denote poor quality. In the same way, "Made in the USA" is not automatically a sign of superior quality.

Case in point, I have a Filson "Elliot Bay" jacket. It is made in China, but the material is top notch (for a wool/polyester blend) and the manufacturing is as solid as my US made Mackinaw Cruiser. I bought it because I needed a lightweight, quality rain jacket and it fit the bill. I have been very impressed with the performance of the jacket, especially when compared to similar "North Face" and "Columbia" garments.

The quality of a garment should be judged on it's own merits and not just by the geographical location of where it's made. To label all of the products made by a specific country into "Good" or "Bad" begins to look like prejudice and isolationism. We need to be better than that if we want to survive living in an international economy. From what I have seen, the Filson line is still focused on quality no matter where the garment is assembled. and that is why the company is still in business.

I for one don't automatically connote made overseas with lower quality.
I do, however, believe that if you want to see the USA become trampled under the Chinese economic engine, you should keep buying stuff that's made over there.
We are becoming a 2nd rate country, economically.
And we're bringing it all upon ourselves.
"Buy American" has new meaning to me.
I don't mean to offend you Mahagonny Bill, but your post borders on the offensive, and is, at the very least insensitive.
Lenny

Mahagonny Bill said:

I am sorry, I am skating very close to politics but I have to stress that outsourced manufacturing does not automatically denote poor quality. In the same way, "Made in the USA" is not automatically a sign of superior quality.

Case in point, I have a Filson "Elliot Bay" jacket. It is made in China, but the material is top notch (for a wool/polyester blend) and the manufacturing is as solid as my US made Mackinaw Cruiser. I bought it because I needed a lightweight, quality rain jacket and it fit the bill. I have been very impressed with the performance of the jacket, especially when compared to similar "North Face" and "Columbia" garments.

The quality of a garment should be judged on it's own merits and not just by the geographical location of where it's made. To label all of the products made by a specific country into "Good" or "Bad" begins to look like prejudice and isolationism. We need to be better than that if we want to survive living in an international economy. From what I have seen, the Filson line is still focused on quality no matter where the garment is assembled. and that is why the company is still in business.

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I would have to second your comments on quality Bill. I have yet to encounter any of the Chinese made Filson items that seemed to be inferior to the American made stuff.

handlebar bart said:

I would have to second your comments on quality Bill. I have yet to encounter any of the Chinese made Filson items that seemed to be inferior to the American made stuff.

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Let me introduce you to the PASSAGE line . . . .. This $300 bag should be $30 . . .


and the $600 Halsey jacket (thankfully this mall coat has been discontinued)--

OneEyeMan said:

I don't mean to offend you Mahagonny Bill, but your post borders on the offensive, and is, at the very least insensitive.
Lenny

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I do apologize if you feel offended or incensed by my post, it was not meant to be taken that way. In turn, I am not offended by your post.

Some other thoughts on Filson (regardless of country of origin)...... At some point over the past 12 to 24 months, Filson instituted a minimum advertised price policy. When that happened, they lost some dealers and the products became increasingly harder to sell, as unless one wanted to email or talk to shop owners in person, there was no "market" price, only the high MSRP and very slightly lower MAP. And, as Filson's line in the past didn't change much at all, one could shop around and find say a double mac for whatever people would really pay for one. These days, there's all kinds of new products that seem to come and go often, rather leads to confusion on what a decent price should be.

I regularly bought Filson years back from a couple of retailers, price was 30% or more off MSRP. I thought a good price point and I got great gear. Those retailers sold a lot of Filson. One's now out and unless I am talking to the owner of the other face to face, it's MAP price.

On the country of origin point regarding quality, I have no idea as what I own is all USA. However, I have their now-discontinued USA guide sweater and I see they have reintroduced it in their new catalog as an imported version. So, I will try to find a new one here locally and make some non-expert comparisons.

Many garments now being manufactured elsewhere are of equal quality or in some case, better than previously manufactured USA garments. I purchased a Brooks Bros no-iron shirt made in Malaysia a few years ago, best no-iron BB shirt I ever had. I went back and purchased 3 more.
Patagonia quality is still very very good no matter where sourced from and it is presently my go to Brand now that Arcteryx is no longer making all their gear in Canada.
But what I do have a problem with is making an item elsewhere and charging the exact same price for that item when made in the USA. I also have a concern about taking jobs out of the US.
With the cost of manufacturing rising globally. Some manufactures are choosing to have gear made in the USA and it is those that I choose to support. I am going to have a soft shell made for me by this company https://secure.beyondclothing.com/customize/cold-fusion-tactical-jacket/ .
In terms of politics, I can choose to support any country I want and in this case its the country I was born and live in, The United States of America.-Dick

Shades of Eddie Bauer!

Sorry to know the details. It was better living in ignorance thinking that Filson was just missing the mark these past couple of years. Betcha we're sunk and some Spiegel-like company will have them selling Filson-embossed leather key fobs and tin cloth pinic blankets in shopping malls across the country. Did you know that Eddie Bauer was bought by General Mills (think Cherrios) as the first step of their plunge into mediocrity. Now it's in the hands of a "holding company." Holding companies are about markets, not products.
I don't know about the Patagonia exec but that line, too, is almost a lost cause. Well at least we can all go chasing after a new "vintage filson" category on ebay.

I hope more of us begin putting some thought into how the products we buy affect the people and the planet. The American style of consumption, buying lots of "stuff" at the cheapest price and tossing away outdated items, is so bad in so many ways.

I hope to keep my American made Filson "Elmer Fudd" (Double Mackinaw cap) until I die and then pass it on.

Jack Burton said:

I'm gonna give Stormy Kromer a try.

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I think you'll be pleased. I've been planning to pick up the classic Stormy Kromer hat for a while, and happened to run into the rest of their line at a outdoors store up north last week. The quality seemed very good. I almost bought a shirt.

Also, it was refreshing to run into something Michigan-made.

-Dave

Just ran across another example: when FIlson first introduced their Uplander boots they were made in the US (handcrafted in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania by an established boot maker). Great boots well worth the money and they included a pair of Made in Italy CORK insoles (these footbeds were $29 retail separately). Fast forward a few years and the boots are now imported and they seem less durable with antiqued brass hardware rather than the shiny they originally used. Moreover the Italian made insoles are gone having been replaced with a thin cork layer on poly foam. When you hit the Filson site they still advertise CORK INSOLES except now they are $17 -- sure the price went down but so did the quality . . .way, w-a-y down.

The great news is that there's tons of fantastic Filson stuff out there and NOT at retail . . .Some stores [Crane's Country comes to mind] routinely hold Filson sales plus on Ebay you can find new old stock stuff for cheap with the tags still on (probably all the disaffected dealers dumping their remaining stock cuz they can't or won't meet new minimums!)

And I agree with a previous poster who asserted that "imported or made overseas" does not automatically make the goods inferior . . Lots of modern overseas factories with good machinery to produce some good things . . . What rankles me about Filson is that two things dropped - quality and their production cost - yet their retail stays high. . . and they think we won't notice? So they must have had a sleepy focus group. Which reminds me . . time for my nap . . . . .

Thanks for the info albeit most disheartening. Perhaps it is time that Filson hears from a group of loyal customers voicing our collective displeasure with the quality slip.