I have a lot of Filson wool clothing. Every piece is made in Seattle. Filson also makes some non-wool stuff I want but every time I go look at the specs on their website, its manufacture is listed as ‘Imported’. While I love the Filson brand, Im not paying Filson prices for something made in Thailand, Bangladesh or anywhere else in Asia.
I suspect its only a matter of time before Filson moves the production of the magnificent wool coats to somewhere more economical…and probably offshore. Or maybe they’ll just move to California and really make the stuff there rather than ‘making it’ at the Port of San Diego.
I suggest that if ‘Made in America’ matters to you, and you want the genuine Filson product, buying it sooner rather than later might be wise.
On the bright side, if you do buy the genuine Filson the rather high price is borne out over the rather long lifespan these things have. I often meet people wearing a Filson and it used to belong to their dad or grandfather. And a couple times a winter I’ll be out and about and someone will interrupt me and say “Excuse me, is that a Filson?” Great product those wool coats.
I have a feeling the “wool” will start being cat, dog, or yak.
“Chinesium” doesn’t only apply to metal.
A business is moving the work into California? Where have they been the last 25+ years?
Does someone want the share price to drop so much they can buy it all up? I know it’s low now and I’m guessing being in Seattle does not help, but no way is getting everything from LA going to be any better.
Given the large number of undocumented aliens in CA, I suspect a good number of ‘outside vendor’ factories employ a number of non-Americans. Filson is a fine product and hopefully will remain so despite the move.
I have a pair of Woolrich vintage jackets. One an anorak, the other a coat. Vintage wool jackets are the shizzle. I just wish I lived in an area where I could wear them more often (south Texas).
About 7-8 years ago, Duluth Trading opened a retail outlet in Louisville, about two blocks from where I worked. Duluth’s lumberjack marketing theme always caused me to believe their tough-as-nails clothing was American made. When I visited, I found one item, the socks I think, made in America. EVERYTHING else was made in Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines or some place in Africa I’d never even heard of. What mostly bothers me about this is the misleading marketing.
Yeah, when I saw my first Duluth catalog I thought Id found my entire wardrobe….and then I saw how everything was made overseas. Bummer.
So Filson will now be made in Mexico aka SoCal.
we stole the land from Mexico and then they stole it back!
Pretty sure the Mex/Spanish stole it from the feather Indians first, who got it by stumbling across it by accident. Finders Keepers, doncha know.
It belongs to whoever can take and hold it. Same as all of recorded history.
Native American is an oxymoron.
There is no such thing.
Champ:
Possession by superior firepower…
Does this mean that when China walks in (probably after being invited in by Bidenistas) you won’t complain?
I doubt it!
Ceejay
Why in God’s name would anyone with half a brain move ANY production to California. Yes, get it now not later.
Because it will be made in the Asian Rim, and the label will be applied in Long Beach or San Peedro (not a typo).
I absolutely agree. I have the double Makinaw Cruiser. And the matching vest. Best money I ever spent on cold weather clothes.
Woolrich once a prestigious American company imports most of their clothing from overseas. Indonesia mostly.
The cloying coming from the Duluth brands likewise are mostly imported.
Stormy Kromer are still made in Michigan as far as I know. They have branded out in coats, vests. At least that’s what they have on the website.
There is good wool. And then their is the low cost cheap wool that most people base their opinions on. I was a Civil War reenactor for nearly a quarter century. You learn quickly that there are some folks who sell crap wool. And others who sell the better stuff.
My grandparents raised sheep on their farm. Along with dairy cows and hogs.
My great grandfather was a wool buyer. One of the largest in the state. He bought for all the big mill’s in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. So wool has been just a natural part of the family history.
You might pay more for Filson. But if you take a look at eBay you will find Filson coats that are 50 years old or more. Still in great shape. The double Makinaw Cruiser design came out of the number camps in Michigan. In the latter part of the 19th century.
If Filson which last I knew had been bought by Berreta along with several other outdoor companies wants to lose business Commifornia is the last place to open shop. Ask Buck knives. They moved after being founded in Commiefornia. Believe they are in Idaho now.
Ive got the Double Mack, Anorak, vest, Jacket, and the new Packers coat. Also three of their different hats. And even a pair of the mittens. Absolutely love it, and I don’t mind the expense since it’ll last the rest of my life. But there’s no way I’m buying something as classically American like their Mack Cruiser when it’s stamped ‘Made in Indonesia’ on it.
Do you have any insight into wool blanket quality? I’m comparing Faribault Woolen Mills academy blanket (https://www.faribaultmill.com/products/academy-wool-blanket) to the Boreal Mountain buffalo blanket (https://borealmountainanoraks.com/products/buffalo-plaid-wool-blanket).
The weights are comparable, though the Boreal Mountain blanket appears to be much more felted while the Faribault is 100% wool.
If I was made of money, I’d just get the Faribault Frontier blanket…
My son already has spoken for my coat and vest. At one time Filson made a women’s line. But more people lived in rural areas in those days.
To bad. Those were better days.
Hey Commander Zero,
With the bond market blood bath this last week, the crashing of CRE over the last few months, the waning of support for the losing war in Ukraine, the restart of the college loan repayments, the super high credit card debt fueled by inflation, the republican right balking at the insane budget amounts, and still the residential and equities bubbles yet to pop; do you not think this attack in Israel came at a really good time for the Biden regime? I mean being able to rally and recruit all the flyover fundamental protestant kids back into the military that they lost the last few years in order for them to save Israel, rebuild the temple of Solomon to summon the antichrist so the rapture will take them and their families to heaven before the second coming? Too many weird things are lining up on this whole “attack”. I worry about all our futures these days. God help us. Stay safe up there in Montana.
Do I think that it came at a good time for the Biden regime?
Beats me. Theyve already got their hands full trying to talk their way out of inflation, Ukraine, student loans, Hunter, and a bunch of other messes. The last thing they would need, I’d think, is another hot-button issue for them to fumble. It’ll just be Operation Nickelgrass all over again.
I used to work down the street from Filson in Seattle, been in there many times, and one of my former bosses ran their IT. They not only had great products, but were a very active community partner as well as active in supporting outdoorsmanship.
This was set into motion well over a decade ago, and due more to their location than due to (initially) manufacturing costs. They were just south of downtown Seattle in a formerly light industrial area near the stadiums. 20 years ago there were already a high number of vagrants, and with the ever-increasing number of homeless drug addicts (but then I repeat myself) and City-allowed homeless encampments in the area it just wasn’t safe to walk or park anywhere near there. Fewer and fewer LMC people (craftsmen, if you will) would stay as it became more unsafe. Parking was crappy, and the bus routes became increasingly unsafe as the homeless took over the transit facilities. They have to move to survive.
LA was likely chosen because of the available skilled workforce, and I would guess they’re landing in some anonymous upscale business park with another local homeless attractors.
Their retail store/HQ was magnificent in a classic 50’s upmarket way; oak paneling and dark green paint. It felt like you were in somebody’s 18th century mansion – surrounded by expensive, hard-wearing outdoor clothing
Stan sold it a few years back and its gone to hell