Columbia Launches PDX Carpet Fleece for Helvetia Anniversary

PORTLAND, Ore. — Columbia Sportswear is commemorating 35 years of its Helvetia fleece with a limited-edition collection inspired by regional culture, beginning with a jacket featuring the distinctive carpet pattern at Portland International Airport (PDX). The Portland-based company will make the design available online and at select stores starting October 15, 2026, as part of a series of releases planned through next year.

The first release, the Helvetia II Half Snap Fleece, will retail for $100 in men's and women's sizes, according to Your Oregon News. Columbia Greater Rewards members can access online sales beginning at 7 a.m. October 14, ahead of the public launch at 7 a.m. October 15.

The company plans to sell the jacket through its website, its Portland flagship store and its store at Portland International Airport. Columbia will also offer a gift with purchase and host a DJ at its airport location from noon to 3 p.m. October 15, according to KPTV.

Columbia Director of Communications Andy Nordhoff said the collaboration reflects the company's longstanding connection to the city and its partnership with the airport.

"Columbia was founded in 1938, just two years before Portland’s airport opened its runways — so we essentially grew up together. The new PDX Helvetia Fleece is a small way to honor our shared heritage and celebrate one of the most iconic carpets on the planet," Nordhoff said in a statement.

The launch also aligns with the airport's efforts to feature Oregon-based brands as part of its expansion. Nordhoff highlighted the company's new airport retail location as an opportunity to introduce Columbia to travelers from around the world.

"Columbia’s deep roots in Portland and PDX’s focus on featuring Oregon-based brands made us a natural fit for the airport’s incredible expansion. We’re absolutely thrilled with our new PDX store. The new space is a great focal point coming out of TSA and promotes the brand to a global audience of travelers every single day," Nordhoff said in a statement.

The collection builds on the Helvetia fleece, which Columbia introduced in 1991. The anniversary series will feature additional limited-edition designs and collaborations through 2027, according to the company.

The airport carpet pattern dates to 1988, when Portland International Airport installed wool flooring with a geometric design created by a local architecture firm. Its teal-and-green appearance later became a recognizable symbol of Portland, particularly as travelers shared photographs of their shoes against the carpet on social media.

When the Port of Portland announced plans to replace the worn carpet in 2013, public reaction helped turn the flooring into an international story. The original carpet was removed in 2015, and a roll of the retired material, decorated with oversized googly eyes, served as grand marshal of Portland's Starlight Parade that summer.

The pattern subsequently appeared on products including sneakers, earrings, beverage cans and Portland Trail Blazers jerseys. In 2024, the Port of Portland and architecture firm ZGF brought the design back to selected areas of the airport's new main terminal, allowing travelers to revisit the familiar carpet while keeping it out of the busiest walkways.

Columbia is also expanding its fleece offerings for fall, according to KPTV. The lineup includes MTR Fleece, designed to retain body heat and repel water, and Omni-Heat Arctic, the company's latest warming technology.

The company also reported increased interest in the Helvetia line during September following its social media campaign featuring Ken Eurich. The PDX-inspired jacket is the first release in the anniversary series, with public online and in-store sales scheduled to begin October 15, 2026.