Columbia Sportswear 2004 Annual Report Download - page 8

Outerwear
Outerwear is our most established product category. Our outerwear is designed to protect the wearer from
inclement weather in everyday use and in outdoor activities, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, hunting and
fishing. Many of our jackets incorporate our popular Columbia Interchange System®, introduced in 1983 which
features a 3- or 4-jackets-in-1 design. Jackets incorporating the Interchange System typically combine a durable,
nylon outershell with a removable, zip-out liner. The outershell and the liner may be worn separately or together.
This layering approach provides the wearer with a jacket for all seasons and weather conditions at a reasonable
price.
Our line of Convert®branded snowboard apparel is another important component of the outerwear category.
We were one of the first companies to identify and react to the rapid emergence of snowboarding as a popular
sport and, as a result, our Convert line is one of the top selling brands of snowboard apparel in the United States.
Our Mountain Hardwear®brand consists of technically advanced products that include Gore-Tex®shells,
Windstopper®fleece, down parkas and technical clothing designed for specialized outdoor activities such as
mountaineering, backpacking and climbing. These technically advanced products are used by some of the most
elite mountaineering athletes around the globe.
Hunting and fishing products constitute one of our longest running product lines in the outerwear category.
This line includes apparel for the serious hunter and fisherman. Our parkas, shells, vests, liners, bib pants and
rain suits in this product line incorporate a variety of specific-purpose features that enhance our reputation as a
leader in this category of outerwear.
Our Sorel®brand outerwear is a traditional rugged outdoor apparel line designed for work and extended
outdoor wear. The collection includes a variety of outerwear styles featuring cotton-based functional jackets,
three-in-one parkas and innovative wool jackets for both men and women.
We also produce a separate line of youth outerwear products. The market for youth outerwear is significant
and we are able to use our expertise in outerwear design and sourcing to meet the needs of the youth market.
Sportswear
In 1993, we began targeting sportswear as a growth opportunity. Building on a foundation of authentic
fishing and hunting shirts, we have expanded our sportswear product line to include hiking shorts, water 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.
Columbia brand 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.
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