SMOKEY THE BEAR IS ON HIS WATCH

FILSON IS CELEBRATING SMOKEY BEAR

Smokey Bear was born in 1944 as part of a national advertising campaign to try and prevent forest fires. His first words were: “Smokey Says – Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires,” followed closely behind by: “Remember … Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires.”

In 1950, Smokey, a black bear cub, was rescued from a wildfire on New Mexico’s Lincoln National Forest. His paws and hind legs badly burned, the five-pound-cub was nursed back to health in Capitan, New Mexico.

Filson has worked with many industries and organizations over the last 119 years, but one of our most special relationships has been with men and women who work in the woods, from outfitting timber cruisers in the early 1900s to providing standard-issue uniforms for the U.S. Forest Service in the 1940s.

This year, Filson is introducing a special line of products to help spread the message of one of our favorite outdoorsmen: Smokey Bear.

The centerpiece of the collection is the limited-edition, individually numbered Smokey Bear Watch. Limited to 1000 pieces, the 43mm watch comes boxed with a certificate of authenticity, a book that tells the story of Smokey Bear and the Filson relationship with the outdoors, a bandana featuring Smokey's image and outdoor safety tips, and six postcards of reimagined vintage Smokey posters. The collection also includes a Smokey Bear t-shirt, a Pendleton-wool blanket, a powder-coated water bottle and a Smokey Bear cap.

A WARM SMILE - CONVERSE X HUDSON BAY CO.

Jack Purcell's are also know as the sneaker with a smile. This time it's a warm smile, Converse teams

up with Hudson Bay the Canadian famous blanket producer. 

The Jack Purcell silhouette is named after another Canadian, John Edward ‘Jack’ Purcell. Purcell was a world famous badminton player in the 1920s and 1930s who designed the canvas and rubber shoes to provide extra support on the court. In the 1970s Converse purchased the rights to the design and have been producing and selling it ever since – the shoe has become instantly identifiable by the signature ‘smiley’ across the toe.

Hudson’s Bay Company was founded way back in 1670. It is North America’s longest continually operated company and one of the oldest in the world. The Hudson’s Bay Company point blanket has been a familiar staple in Canada and across the globe for over 200 years. Mirroring the manufacturing of the blanket, the wool used on the shoe is dyed before it is spun, then air and sun dried to brighten the colours.

The result is a great casual shoe with a vintage feel and injection of colour due to the green, red, yellow and navy stripes. The shoe comes complete with threaded stitching and antique brass eyelets, and includes the Jack Purcell and Hudson’s Bay logos on the foot bed.