Compass: Charting the Evolution of Outdoor Gear

Mountain Equipment History

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1960

Peter Hutchinson starts making sleeping bags and duvets at the "The Mountaineer" climbing shop

1961

closes retails shop and opens manufacturing business as Mountain Equipment

1979

import a budget line of made-in-China down sleeping bags, under the moniker of 'The Dragon Series'

introduce vertical baffles over chest area of sleeping bags. Idea later copied by other brands

1984

brings in investors as business grows

company has over 90 employees

1987

introduce a small line of tunnel tents

introduce a line of travel apparel (seemingly inspired by Rohan's success in this market)

1991

company in receivership

Peter Hutchinson sells his shareholding to new owners

1992

Andrew Denton shepherds ME brand as Managing Director

1995

launch a casualwear line of rock climbing apparel, called 'Stonewear'

1997

Andrew Denton organises Management Buy Out (MBO) of Mountain Equipment, via umbrella company Outdoor and Sports Company (OSC)

OSC also owns the Ron Hill brand, amongst others

????

(Peter Hutchinson starts new small scale gear production under label ‘8000 Metres’)

1998

(Peter Hutchinson changes his new company's name to PHD (Peter Hutchinson Designs), and launches in August of that year)

2000

(PHD Minimus down sleeping bag chosen as an official 'Millennium Product' by the British Design Council)

2002

climber John Dunne, signs a three-year deal as technical consultant on product design & development, and marketing

2003

Mountain Equipment (and other OSC brands) sold to Bollin Group, the current owners, who also own Sprayway

Mountain Equipment now

PHD (Peter Hutchinson Designs) now