Columbia Sportswear Company, based in Oregon, United States, is an outerwear brand founded in 1938. Columbia has been most widely known for its jackets, within which the brand pioneered breathable waterproof fabric and styles with multiple interchangeable shells and liners.
Oregon has always been Columbia's home base, and the brand is named after the mountainous region's Columbia River. With this proximity to nature and the landscape, the brand transitioned from the Columbia Hat Company to the Columbia Sportswear Company in 1960. A family-owned and operated business, primarily by Chairwoman Gert Boyle and her son Tim Boyle, the brand expanded into designing and developing its products after having frustrations with suppliers. By 2001, Columbia became the largest American manufacturer of ski apparel, outfitting skiers in vivid, modern outdoor designs. Gert Boyle remained Chairwoman until she died in 2019 at age 95, stewarding the brand through acquisitions, sustainable initiatives, and fashion-forward collaborations. For example, Columbia and streetwear brand Kith teamed up to create a series of illustrative pieces that capture iconic American Mountain West locations, such as the Kith x Columbia Yosemite Quarter Zip in waffle.
Beyond creating striking and stylish outdoor gear, Columbia and Kith collaborated on various outdoor products, including a four-person dome tent, a packable throw blanket, hiking boots, and other useful gear. Outdoors enthusiasts who enjoy Columbia's stylish output with Kith will want to check out other covetable functional wear by brands such as Moncler and The North Face, whose designs are aligned with Columbia's spirit of not having to sacrifice style to brave the elements.
