The down jacket is something that does its job so well that we really don’t give it a second thought. For Eddie Bauer, the invention of the down jacket was his reaction to a near-death experience. Bauer became hypothermic and nearly died during a steelhead fishing trip in the Pacific Northwest, and when he eventually returned to Seattle, he was determined to design a better coat. The resulting quilted down jacket, called the Skyliner, was granted a U.S. patent in 1940, transforming Eddie Bauer into a nationally known brand while also changing the course of outerwear history. The 1936 Skyliner Model Down jacket is available now through the EB Originals line, replicating every structural detail and featuring an updated cotton/nylon shell with premium down insulation.
