J.W. Hulme Co. History
1905-1919 - War Efforts
Along with their expertise in making awnings, John W. Hulme and his brother were eager to do their part for the war effort. They found themselves in the business of making tents for the looming war. From the time they started the company in 1905 until the early 1920s, tents and awnings were the main focus of the company.
1920s-1940s - From Tents and Awnings to Bags
J.W. Hulme Co. continued production of large heavy-duty canvas tents, highly sought-after in times of war. As the need for canvas tents waned following the World wars, the company turned its attention to providing awnings for the elite of Saint Paul, Minn. society. J.W. Hulme Co. also began to design and manufacture canvas and leather bags for Minnesota sporting hunters.
Fast-Forward to 1975 - Collection for Gokey
J.W. Hulme Co. was purchased by Norton Cross and a new phase of interesting development began. Norton, an avid outdoorsman, kept the awning business going, while designing and starting to manufacture sporting bags. Based on the old duffles his grandfather had shown him, Norton created a line of canvas carrying bags that instantly became must-haves among the outdoors set. The bags became so popular that Gokey, a Saint Paul outfitter and national catalog firm, looked to J.W. Hulme Co. to develop and produce a line of sporting bags and
accessories which they sold successfully for years.
1987-1997 - The Orvis Years
J.W. Hulme Co. began manufacturing a similar line for Orvis, a sporting manufacturer and retail giant. At JWH, business was booming! After Orvis purchased Gokey, J.W. Hulme Co. continued to make both Orvis and Gokey bags and accessories. Orvis moved its operation to Missouri and decided to take over manufacturing. This led to the end of their production relationship with J.W. Hulme Co. in 1997.
1997-2000 - Transformation
Our transformation began when we mailed our first exclusively J.W. Hulme Co. product catalog. "The Original" tagline touted J.W. Hulme bags as the original Orvis products, and positioned J.W. Hulme Company's move from private-label manufacturing to building its own branded products.
The awning division of the J.W. Hulme Co. was sold in 2000 in order to concentrate solely on creating bags and accessories.
2003 - Re-Energized Commitment
re-established J.W. Hulme Co.'s core values of exceptional quality and Always Made in USA products, with the promise to keep all design and production in the US. They demonstrated their commitment by backing JWH products with a lifetime guarantee, and by offering unsurpassed customer service.
In addition, they put new strategies into place to promote the brand and its impressive legacy, furthering their goal of becoming a premier, high-end handbag, luggage and sporting bag designer and manufacturer.
Today -
The very finest quality and customer service are as real today as they were in 1905. J.W. Hulme Co. continues to craft its bags in Minnesota, employing the most skilled canvas and leather artisans. In addition to its original canvas sporting and hunting bags, J.W. Hulme Co. has expanded its line to several collections, including all-leather bags for travel, business and sporting as well as women's handbags.
Our bags and accessories are sold across the United States in impressive retailers such as Anthropologie, Barneys NY, Allen Edmonds and Steven Alan. And the Made-in-USA J.W. Hulme Co. brand is being sought-after by more and more retailers outside the US. JWH-branded items currently are being sold at Ships, Journal Standard and American Rag in Japan, as well as at fine retailers in Canada, Australia, Germany.
