“Borrowed from the boys” is a colloquial term often used in fashion circles to describe women wearing menswear. Up until today, it’s what I would have used to describe any number of the Filson garments I own: the perfectly weighted long sleeve crewneck, this wool shacket and this waxed tin cloth jacket.
Read More
Up till now, Filson’s “unfailing goods” have failed in one department: womens’ fits. The brand has featured women’s designs sporadically in the past — a small collection here, a women’s-specific jacket there — but it’s always been tricky to find outerwear, shirting and accessories that cater to both a woman’s physique and style —especially if you’re petite. That changes today, with the release of Filson’s first full womenswear collection.
Filson Bets on Women’s Market
While the 127-year-old brand has had a strong presence in American men’s outerwear and workwear for some time, Filson has yet to find a stronghold in the women’s category, lifestyle or workwear. In 2020, WP Lavori, the Italy-based distributor and licensor took a minority stake in Filson and its co-founder and President, Cristina Calori, pushed for a collection that would address a female client’s needs.
“With Filson being such an important heritage and quality brand, expanding into the American market is a logical step, given existing e-commerce and store success catering to a female clientele with specific needs,” says Calori. “It’s a natural progression.”
The resulting collection, designed by Calori and Filson’s Chief Creative Officer, Alex Carleton, was inspired by pioneering women in history and influenced by Filson’s extensive archives. It features outerwear, shirting and accessories that toe the line between durable workwear and elevated lifestyle pieces. Knits, wool and denim are heavy in the collection, and while the silhouettes are distinctly feminine, they also embody the rugged ethos that has helped Filson stand the test of time.
After perusing Filson’s upcoming women’s collection, a few pieces caught my eye: the Mackinaw Wool Barn Coat gives elevated chore coat vibes, while the Wool Cardigan would look as at-home in an off-grid A-frame cabin as it would out in town. The Shelter Cloth Work Jacket is equal parts style and substance, and could fit in at camp as easily as on the city streets. The Women’s Embroidered Western Shirt looks like an elevated everyday staple I would live in.
Going All-In On Womenswear
As mentioned above, this isn’t the first time Filson has released women’s designs — they’ve popped up here and there throughout the years — but, this new collection marks the biggest investment the brand has made in the women’s market, with an ongoing full women’s collection.
Filson’s new womenswear collection will launch in August 2024 and feature 32 styles including outerwear, shirting and accessories in sizes ranging from XS to 2XL and prices from $98 to $995.
