1877
Arthur Ellis & Co founded by Arthur Ellis, built on the back of his father, Ephraim Ellis’s flocking mill business in Dunedin, New Zealand
1920’s
Roland Ellis, a mountaineer (and bedding manufacturer), makes the Southern Hemisphere’s first down sleeping bags
1948
Murray Ellis joins the business
1953
New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary makes first ascent of Mt Everest wearing a Fairydown down jacket.
Fairydown sleeping bags also used at 28,000 ft by Hillary and fellow summiter, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay
1957
supplied purpose designed polar clothing and sleeping bags to the successful New Zealand 57/58 South Pole Expedition
1980
Arthur Ellis Holdings Ltd is manufacturer of sleeping bags, mattresses, upholstery, beddings, pillows, and jackets
Murray Ellis resigns as Executive Director of Arthur Ellis
David Ellis, son of Murray, joins Arthur Ellis & Co.
????
Arthur Ellis & Co acquired by international trading conglomerate, Northern Feather
1989
David Ellis resigns from the business, citing conflicts with his strongly held family values and business ethics
1990
develop a line of packs, including the Traverse, Terra Nova and Chameleon
[Earth Sea Sky established by David Ellis and Sydney Mulligan]
1991
Arthur Ellis company is bought by Donaghys from Northern Feather
develop a tent range, including the Solo, Plateau Tent, Assault
1992
develop a sleeping bag range, including the Scorpion, Liteweight, and Cobra.
1996
develop the patented Rapid Pitch System (RPS) for tents (continuous pole sleeves and rubber 'pole stop' end pockets.)
????
develop the Fairydown Rain Machine to test tent waterproofness. 8,000 litres of water per hour continously recycled
1998
New Zealand based manufacturing is mostly closed down. Production moved to Asia due to the higher value of New Zealand dollar
2001
company loses $1 million on its manufacturing operation
2002
70% of turnover is derived from New Zealand sales, 30% from exports
turnover equals NZ$50 million
former Bendon managing director, Hugo Venter, buys 40% stake in Arthur Ellis,
remaining 60% owned by AMP Henderson Global Investors' PrivateCapital Fund.
the combined Arthur Ellis/Donaghys group is restructured into separate groups of companies,
95 jobs lost in Christchurch and Dunedin (30% of finished product had been New Zealand labour)
2003
Fairydown is rebranded ‘Zone’, because Australian men apparently perceived homosexual connotations in the word 'fairy'
buys Survival Apparel, (merino and thermal underwear), including Everwarm brand, owned by Mary Devine and Terry Iggo, out of Auckland,
Mary Devine take executive position with Arthur Ellis
acquires Australasian distribution rights for the Timberland brand, including Timberland retail stores
2005
Murray Ellis dies
Arthur Ellis donates tents and sleepware to the Tsumani appeal
Mary Devine (ex Survival Apparel) is chief executive officer
Pacific Brands announces intent to acquire from Arthur Ellis Limited its Bedware businesses
Everwarm (polypropylene thermals) and Survival (merino apparel) businesses, also owned by Arthur Ellis are also sold to Pacific Brands
sale is reported as going for NZ$13.2 million.
????
AMP Henderson Private Capital buy the Fairydown parent company Arthur Ellis
2006
Jan Cameron (of Alp Sports and Kathmandu) buys the Fairydown brand, (and related Great Outdoors brand)
2007
Mouton Noir (Bernard Wicht, Pierre van Noorden, and Campbell Junor), buy Fairydown brand from Jan Cameron
Jan Cameron was apparently unable to advance the brand due to a restraint of trade agreement following her sale of the Kathmandu brand
new owners open Fairydown branded retail store in Christchurch, with others planned for Wellington, Dunedin and Auckland
2008
Fairydown branded gear sold exclusively through Mouton Noir's retail stores now under their newly acquired Macpac brand
Fairydown Bedware today
Fairydown Outdoor today (via Macpac)
Earth Sea Sky today