Columbia is known as a product innovator and has an unparalleled reputation for quality and value. These basic principles guide Columbia through the creation of inventive and highly popular designs, including its famous Interchange System™. Columbia developed this revolutionary concept in 1982 and it has since propelled the company to the forefront of the outerwear industry. Columbia's first Interchange jackets were made for hunting and featured a weatherproof outer shell and an insulating inner jacket that could be worn together or separately. This allowed each parka to be several garments in one. The product was so popular that we applied the same concept to a ski parka and called it the Bugaboo™, which became one of the best-selling ski jackets in history. In 1991, the company introduced its Omni-Tech™ products, which feature waterproof breathable fabric. Columbia is now one of the world's largest providers of waterproof breathable performance products designed for authentic outdoor adventures. Other innovations include Omni-Shade™ clothing, recommended by The Skin Cancer Foundation as effective protection from the sun's harmful effects on your skin.
