{08.31.12} Profiles & Features

Centennial Celebration

In 1912, L.L. Bean launched with a four-page catalog. Soon, there were more than 100 orders for the company's signature hunting shoe, developed by Leon Leonwood Bean himself, and an iconic American brand was born. A century later, the brand is still going strong thanks to the integrity of its product line, legendary customer service and the ability to change with the evolution of both style and sport. All this year, the company is celebrating its centennial with promotions and specialty products—from a reprint of a 1942 outdoor guide and an archival rerelease of those signature boots, to a seven-tool Swiss Army knife. And to further celebrate their longevity, the company is donating $1 million to the National Park Foundation—the only nonprofit whose sole mission is to safeguard America's diverse national parks.