Eddie Bauer History

The company has a long standing history,Corps to develop a parka designed to keep pilots
beginning in 1920, when it was created by Misterwarm at high altitudes. The result was the "B-9
Bauer. He opened his first store, "Eddie Bauer'sFlight Parka", and an order of over 50.000 pieces.
Tennis Shop" in downtown Seattle, starting theThe necessities of the war allowed Eddie  to
business by building and repairing tennis rackets.supply the United States Army with a large
Soon after, he expanded his activities to buildingnumber of sleeping bags, backpacks and pants.
golf clubs and fishing tackles. He used his spareIn 1945, Bauer started selling woman clothing
time to develop a shuttlecock, which to hisalongside its men products, and issued his first
surprise enjoyed enormous success, being pivotalmail-order catalog.
to the popularization of badminton in the UnitedIn the 1950's Eddie Bauer started a partnership
States.with William Niemi, who will later became the sole
Several years later, after developing hypothermiaCEO of Eddie Bauer, after Eddie and his son will
while on a fishing trip, Eddie Bauer tried to find asell their half to Niemi in the 1968.
proper replacement for the heavy and bulky woolIn 1971, the company was bought by General Mills
garments in use at the time. In 1940, he finallyand the company shifted its focus on casual
patented a new jacket design, the first quiltedclothing, while expanding to over 60 stores.
goose down-insulated jacket in the United States.Later, the brand was bought by Spiegel, and in
The new jacket was a success and soon startedthe first year only 39 new Eddie Bauer stores
selling as "The Skyliner".opened.
During the Second World War, in 1942, Bauer wasBy 1998, there were over 550 stores in North
commissioned by the United States Army AirAmerica, 32 in Japan and 9 in Germany.