Columbia Sportswear 2003 Annual Report Download - page 9

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sport trunks, fleece and pile products, sweaters, chinos, knit shirts, woven shirts, sweats, and jeans. Our
sportswear product line appeals to both the serious outdoorsman and the more casual wearer who wants to project
an outdoor image.
For the consumer interested in trekking and adventure travel, our GRT®(Gear for Rugged Trekking and
Travel) line of active outdoor performance apparel offers a line of lightweight products, many of which
incorporate our Omni-Dry®system of moisture management.
Our PFG®(Performance Fishing Gear) line offers a variety of products, including jackets, vests, bibs,
shorts, shirts, and pants with technical features such as UPF sun protection.
Sportswear products are designed to be sold alongside our outerwear and footwear products as part of our
unified “head-to-toe” outfitting concept. Although the majority of our sportswear sales are to sporting goods and
specialty outdoor stores, department stores are becoming an increasingly important part of our distribution chain.
In 2003, our Sorel brand launched a traditional workwear apparel line designed for work and extended
outdoor wear applications. The workwear collection includes a variety of sportswear styles featuring cotton-
based convertible pants, bibs and worker shorts.
Sportswear for the Mountain Hardwear brand is focused on styles that are designed for backpacking, rock
climbing and adventure sports. This category was introduced in 1999 and many styles feature Mountain
Hardwear patented “Conical Waist” which improves comfort and performance while wearing a backpack. All
styles use technically advanced fabrics and the category has grown to include casual as well as performance
athletic apparel used by outdoor athletes.
Footwear
We introduced our footwear products in 1993. This category consists of seasonal outdoor footwear for
adults and youth in cold weather, hiking, trail, sandals, outdoor casual and rugged comfort styles. Many feature
innovative technical designs that incorporate waterproof/breathable constructions, thermal insulation, advanced
cushioning systems and high abrasion, slip-resistant outsoles. We believe that the market for footwear represents
a substantial growth opportunity.
Our acquisition of the Sorel trademark rights and other related intellectual property rights in September
2000 provides additional opportunities for us in the footwear category. The Sorel brand has been known for cold
weather footwear for over forty years. We began offering the classic Sorel styles in the fall of 2001 as well as a
line of special make product for some larger retailers. We are continuing to focus on the expansion of the Sorel
product offerings into new categories in order to leverage Sorel’s cold weather heritage and make Sorel a year
round brand for outdoor oriented men, women and children.
Accessories
We also produce a line of accessories that includes hats, caps, scarves, gloves, mittens and headbands to
complement our outerwear and sportswear lines.
Equipment
As a result of our acquisition of Mountain Hardwear in March 2003, our product line expanded to include
technically advanced tents and sleeping systems. These products are designed for such uses as mountaineering,
ultralight backpacking and camping and serve a wide variety of situations for the outdoor enthusiast and
professionals. Many of these designs are patented and are considered industry standards in innovation.
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