Brand History

If it's true that experience brings wisdom, then Columbia Sportswear’s more than 70 years in business should mean we know a thing or two about making great outdoor gear. We like to think so. We enjoy the outdoors as much as you do, which means we know what you need. We know that being cold and wet is no fun. Blue eyes may be sexy, but blue lips aren't. And, while a sunny day is excellent, sunburn sucks. That's why we make high-quality performance products that keep you comfortable and protected, no matter where your excursions take you. The outdoors isn't all about remote expeditions or climbing the world's highest mountains. Anyone can enjoy the outdoors. It's easy. Just open the door and go outside. From the mountain peak to the neighborhood park, from the glacier to the garden, and from the Tour de France to training wheels, Columbia helps you enjoy your outdoor adventure anywhere you like to play. We're a family business gone global. Chairman Gert Boyle's parents — German nationals who fled Nazi Germany in 1938 — purchased a small hat company upon their arrival in Portland and named it Columbia Hat Company, after the river that inspired their new home. This humble beginning was of huge significance to the family, marking new found freedom and a fresh start. Her husband later took over, and after he died Gert ran the show, going from housewife to executive overnight. Today, her son Tim Boyle is our longtime president and CEO. The family — like our business — has experienced its ups and downs, but enjoying the outdoors together has always been an inseparable part of the program.