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Worse on Purpose

Eddie Bauer

Historic American outdoor apparel brand. First Ascent technical line, Guide Pro pants, legendary down jackets.

Status: Avoid
Founded
1920
Website
eddiebauer.com
HQ
USA
Manufacturing
China,Various
Ownership type
Brand licensing (ABG-style)
Parent
Authentic Brands Group
Acquired
Pre-2020 (ABG; multiple ownership changes since)

Ownership

ABG-owned. Third bankruptcy filing in February 2026, with 174 stores closing and over $1B in debt. ABG retains the trademark; operating partners rotate.

Why Avoid

Lifetime warranty was scrapped between March and May 2019, replaced with a one-year return window. Footwear line was reportedly selected from Chinese white-label catalogs with zero internal design work. Now in its third bankruptcy cycle under ABG ownership.

Sister brands under Authentic Brands Group

See all 12 sister brands

Read the full investigation

Investigation · April 17, 2026

Your Favorite Brands Got Worse On Purpose

Authentic Brands Group buys dead brands, strips the design and manufacturing, and licenses the name to anyone who'll pay. Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Forever 21, Sports Illustrated. Plus the ones still worth buying.

Read the full investigation

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