Iconic Outdoor Brand Returns to its Roots for Fall 2011

 Eddie Bauer, “The Original Outdoor Outfitter,” introduces the Fall 2011 collection for men and women. 

 The collection was inspired by the majesty of Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula – the site of Eddie Bauer’s fishing cabin where he spent a great deal of time with the two loves of his life: the outdoors and Stine - short for Christine - his wife of fifty-seven years.  “We looked to the landscape’s rugged textures and unique colors as a starting point for this season,” says Nathan Laffin, the brand’s senior vice president and creative director.  “The Peninsula is one of the few places that looks much like it did in 1920, when Eddie founded the company, giving it a sense of authenticity that echoes the roots of the brand.”

That influence is evident throughout the clothing, which takes design cues directly from the land (such as prints based on the rocks of beaches where Eddie and his wife Stine launched canoes) as well as the adventures offered by the area -- the collection includes jeans mimicking the wear pattern of Eddie’s pants after hunting trips up north.

Laffin also turned to the company’s rich archive for inspiration: “For Fall we are featuring incredible sweaters that build upon a long tradition of Pacific Northwest pattern work as well as modernized plaids for him and her, a signature of the brand.”

The collection is also notable for its innovative outerwear that continues to reinforce Eddie Bauer’s reputation as an authority in the category.  In 1936 Bauer created the “Skyliner,” the first quilted goose down jacket in North America, for which he was awarded a patent in 1940.  That feat would set a precedent for additional technological breakthroughs that made Eddie Bauer a preferred outfitter for some of the world’s most treacherous expeditions including the 1953 Third American Karakoram Expedition, Jim Whittaker’s 1963 Mount Everest expedition in which he became the first American to stand atop the world’s highest mountain and several scientific expeditions to the South Pole.

Seventy-five years after the original “Skyliner,” the brand continues to pioneer new technology with the Fall 2011 collection.  Pieces such as the First Ascent MicroTherm Down Shirt for men and First Ascent Downlight Vest for women combine ultimate warmth and wearability with a style that emphasizes the beauty of functionality. 

“In developing this collection, we sought to see through Eddie’s eyes and create something that he himself would have been proud of,” says Laffin.  “It’s about celebrating a return to values that Eddie embraced so passionately: quality, ingenuity and originality, and honoring Eddie’s approach to business – delivering original product that does what it’s supposed to do, every time, without fail.”

About Eddie Bauer

Established in 1920 in Seattle, Eddie Bauer is a specialty retailer that sells sportswear, outerwear, gear and accessories for the active outdoor lifestyle. The Eddie Bauer brand is a nationally recognized brand that stands for high quality, innovation, style and customer service. Eddie Bauer products are available at approximately 364 stores throughout the United States and Canada, through catalog sales and online at eddiebauer.com.