Filson has been making quality dry goods since 1897, and the Filson Mackinaw Cruiser is an iconic piece that still endures. It has its origins in the Seattle, Washington, store operated by Clinton C. Filson himself, whose post-Gold Rush customers were demanding outdoor apparel that was both versatile and durable. He applied for a patent in 1912 for his Cruiser Shirt, which featured a timeless, simple design with useful innovations, including a double-layered back pocket, utility chest pocket and a slotted chest pocket. Quickly adopted as an essential garment by Yukon prospectors and lumberjacks throughout the Pacific Northwest, the Cruiser Shirt would be awarded a patent in March of 1914. Initially, it would be made with rugged materials like water-repellent Tin Cloth or warm Mackinaw wool, and over the years the Cruiser has evolved with new fabrics and revisions in its functional design, though its basic DNA has remained firmly intact.
While the wearers of today’s Cruiser don’t put the garment through the sort of paces it endured in the early 20th century, you can rest assured that the Filson Cruiser is still up to any task.
