Gerry (company)
Gerry is a brand of outdoor sports clothing and gear, currently specializing in cold weather garments. The company was founded in 1946 in Denver, Colorado by Gerald "Gerry" Cunningham,[1] a veteran of the 10th Mountain Division.[2] Initially it was a mail order business providing lightweight equipment for mountaineers. In 1947 Cunningham developed the triangular carabiner,[1] the first in the modern style.[3] In 1951 he invented the drawstring clamp or cord lock.[1] In 1953 Gerry tents were used in the first successful Everest expedition.[1][3]
In 1958 Gerry opened the first of its retail stores, in Boulder.[1] In 1959 Cunningham invented the Gerry Kiddie Carrier; it was patented in 1963.[1] The company Gerry Designs, Inc. was spun off with Meg Hansson in 1960 to market the carrier to a wider audience. Nearly a million babies were toted in the carriers.[4]
In 1959 the company created a very compact survival suit for the US Air Force.[1] The seven piece suit was made of nylon and goose down and came vacuum packed in a small box. It was used in jets and space capsules. The coat converted into a sleeping bag.[5] Gerry expanded into outerwear and produced some of the first lightweight down jackets.[1] In 1963 the company supplied ultra lightweight gear for the first American ascent of Everest.[1] For the 1964 Winter Olympics the Olympic Committee wore Gerry ski coats.[1]
In 1971 Cunningham resigned from the company, saying it was "too big and no fun".[4] In 1973 he was elected to the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame. At that time Gerry was a division of Outdoor Sports Industries.[6] Through 1980, the company offered a collection of innovative and brightly-colored down garments, which sold well world-wide. But within a few years the company's products largely disappeared from the retail market.
Later the Gerry brand was owned by the Amerex Group Inc., a New York based privately owned clothing manufacturer which owned several brands.[7] In 2002, Amerex created the Gerry website [8] and announced a number of sponsorship programs.[9]
Cunningham died May 15, 2010 at his home in Patagonia, Arizona (born February 17, 1922).[10]
In 2010, the Gerry brand was bought by Studio Ray, of New York City which revamped the catalog, which included their classic outerwear and accessories.[1] In Fall 2012, Gerry began to be sold at retailers, including Macy's, Dillard's, and The Sports Authority. Gerry has its showroom in New York City.
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Our Heritage". Gerry. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ Meyers, Charlie (September 2007). "Tracking the 10th". Skiing Heritage Journal. 19 (3): 18. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
- ^ a b Burmon, Andrew. "The Outfitter's Resurrection". Men's Journal. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ a b Johnson, Julie (2010). "Obituary - Gerry Cunningham". Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ^ "Survival suit in small packet (Gerry Inc., Boulder, Colo.)". Popular Mechanics. 115 (2): 134. February 1961.
- ^ "Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Members" (PDF). National Sporting Goods Association. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
- ^ Johnson, Bruce. "GERRY of Colorado: Perhaps the Original Gear Pioneer". History of Gear. Oregon Photos. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
- ^ "Case Studies: Amerex Group". Business Edge. 2003. Archived from the original on 20 December 2003.
- ^ "What's new". Gerry International. 4 September 2002. Archived from the original on 16 February 2006.
- ^ "Obituary: Gerald "Gerry" Arthur Cunningham '45". Antioch College. Retrieved 9 June 2016.