Eddie Bauer’s retail operator declares bankruptcy as younger shoppers view the brand as ‘old-fashioned and a bit irrelevant’

The bankruptcy filing marks the third time in a little over two decades for the storied-but-now-tired brand that began as a Seattle fishing shop, later outfitted the first American to climb Mount Everest and made thousands of newfangled down jackets and sleeping bags for the military during World War II. The operations of other brands in the Catalyst Brands portfolio are not affected by this filing and will continue in the normal course, according to the company. The parent company of Saks Fifth Avenue said last month that it was seeking bankruptcy protection, buffeted by rising competition and the massive debt it took on to buy its rival in the luxury sector, Neiman Marcus, just over a year ago.

Author: Anne D'Innocenzio, The Associated Press

---