Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer is an American lifestyle, clothing and sportswear company founded in 1920 by Eddie Bauer in Seattle Washington. What started as a simple sporting goods shop has now become an elaborate company that specializes in everything from luggage to bedding.
Bowers first signature product was a patented goose down jacket down as the Skyliner that he sold out of his upscale sporting goods shop. As the story goes, Bauer became disillusioned with the traditional woolen clothing options at the time that were predisposed to becoming waterlogged during rain storms. In response to this Bauer created a jacket that was impervious to becoming waterlogged. Shortly after its inception the Skyliner became a runaway success and Bauer was commissioned by the Army air Corps to develop a parka for high-altitude pilots.
In 1968 Bauer sold his business to partner William Nimi, who then sold it to the General Mills Co. in 1971. At the same time the company underwent a radical departure from selling sporting gear to selling casual apparel.
The company underwent another transformation in 1988 when it was sold to Spiegel and shortly thereafter the Eddie Bauer brand began to encompass much more than just clothing. Bicycles, car appointment packages, eyeglasses and baby products are just a few of the many branded commodities that have been added to the Eddie Bauer catalog since 1988.
Despite its rapid expansion with over 550 retail locations, Eddie Bauer has had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection twice. Once in 2005 and again in 2009.
