Columbia Clothing, the popular outdoorsy brand that brings technology to its apparel, is executing on a new strategy to open Columbia-branded retail stores across the US. The company isn’t just doing one-size-fits-all either. Near Dallas, Columbia opened a combination apparel and gear destination, which Columbia calls a Performance Fishing Gear (PFG) themed store. It features specialized tech-enhanced gear like fishing boots with ventilated draining midsoles. (Columbia has opened a PFG store in Atlanta, too.)
The draining boot is not typical of the product lines available in Columbia’s new flagship New York City store, which is a little more focused on style than sport technology–though there will be merchandise for everyone in this serious NYC emporium. (It’s on 14th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues.) The Oregon-based Columbia has been around since 1938.