Eddie Bauer was an avid outdoorsman who opened his own sporting goods shop in Seattle in 1920. Known simply as Eddie Bauer's Sport Shop, this simple retail outlet quickly won a wide following throughout the Northwest. Eddie Bauer was the first person to manufacture down parkas, which he released in 1936.

As the company grew and franchised, it began to offer more and more home furnishing selections and apparel accessories. Bauer eventually sold the company in the late 1960s. Three years after he made this move, General Mills took over ownership. A company named Spiegel Incorporated bought Eddie Bauer from General Mills in the late 1980s.

Today, over 600 Eddie Bauer stores bring award-winning clothing--from pants, knit tops, and jeans to sleepwear and outerwear--to consumers in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Lifestyle merchandise is backed up by excellent customer service. The company markets two major brands, Eddie Bauer Home, and Eddie Bauer. The company also promotes its special creed and guarantee. (Eddie Bauer was one of the very first clothing retailers to offer unconditional guarantees for merchandise.)

Eddie Bauer clothing is designed for the casual lifestyle. With jackets, vest, sweaters, and khakis that are made to last--and still some of the highest quality down parkas on the market--this brand is popular across generations. Featuring classic clothing with new and innovative materials (as well as the old cotton and chino standbys), Eddie Bauer style is akin to Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren in its all-American appeal.