Company Story
1938 - Columbia Sportswear Company was founded by Paul Lamfrom, a German immigrant, as a small hat distributorship in Portland, Oregon.
1940s - The company shifted its focus from hats to outdoor apparel, including fishing and hunting gear.
1950s - Columbia Sportswear began to develop its own branded products, including jackets and shirts.
1960s - The company expanded its product line to include ski jackets and pants, and introduced its first waterproof and breathable fabric, Omni-Tech.
1970s - Columbia Sportswear went public with an initial public offering (IPO) and began to expand globally.
1980s - The company introduced its popular Titanium jacket, which became a best-seller.
1990s - Columbia Sportswear acquired several outdoor brands, including Mountain Hardwear and Sorel.
2000s - The company expanded its product line to include footwear and introduced its innovative OutDry technology.
2010s - Columbia Sportswear acquired Prana, a sustainable outdoor apparel brand, and launched its first-ever global brand campaign, ' Tested Tough'.