Columbia Sportswear Apparel and Gear

Columbia Sportswear Company is a global leader in the outdoor and active lifestyle industry. Founded in 1938 as a small hat company in Portland, Oregon, it has grown into one of the most recognizable names for outerwear, footwear, and hiking equipment. The brand is particularly renowned for its proprietary technologies like Omni-Heat and Omni-Tech, which offer thermal regulation and waterproofing.

While the brand's heart and design headquarters remain in the United States, manufacturing is distributed across a vast global supply chain. Production primarily takes place in several Asian countries, including Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India, to ensure high-volume manufacturing specialized for technical fabrics.

Columbia remains a publicly traded company controlled largely by the Boyle family, descendants of the original founders. It serves as the parent corporation for other noted outdoor brands such as Sorel, Mountain Hardwear, and prAna, maintaining its headquarters in Washington County, Oregon.