Since 1990, Free Country, Ltd. has manufactured casual outerwear inspired by a modern, active lifestyle. The young company took a fresh, new approach to outerwear by creating attention-getting designs through a fusion of performance and fashion. Free Country has since emerged as a power in the apparel industry with a look, spirit, and soul that stands out from the pack.

The driving force behind Free Country's success began with its founder, Ira Schwartz, who discovered inspiration in his own active lifestyle. From the beginning he had a vision "to market and merchandise a lifestyle which reflects the philosophy of doing one's own thing -- creating authentic outerwear with a not-too-serious attitude that people will have fun wearing." The result was a collection of men's outerwear with rugged charm, smart styling, and classic authenticity.

In 1994 Ira's wife, Jody, joined the company and the inspiration for a ladies collection became clear. Merging the Free Country approach to men's casual, active outerwear with the modern woman's desire for more fashionable, versatile clothing, the ladies outerwear collection was quickly established as an impressive force in the women's market. Both lines continue to combine personal style with performance, quality and value.

A recent extension of Free Country outerwear was developed under the Free Tech label. Free Tech addresses the true active, outdoorsperson through functional outwear that is meant for outdoor recreational use. Free Tech is performance-inspired in its styling, brighter and bolder in color and uses high-tech details such as water and wind-proof fabrications, fleece linings, reflective taping and patches.

Free Country and Free Tech can be found in a variety of retailers including major department stores, national specialty chains, national catalogs, sporting goods stores, outdoor stores and better specialty stores.

Most recently, and after much encouragement from the management of national department stores and sporting goods stores to further its lifestyle approach, Free Country has formed a branded children's outerwear division. This new division has its own independent set of merchandisers, designers and technical people who bring extensive experience in the children's outerwear market directly to the division. The boys line is available in sizes 2 to 20 and girls is available in sizes 2 to 16.