From protecting prisoners from the cold during World War II to designing jackets for explorers summiting Mount Everest, Pyrenex’s 160 years of existence has been interesting …

History of the Pyrenex

The Crabos Company is anchored in the Landes region, which is the heartland of French goose and duck breeding, which has been a natural activity for the last 200 years in the area near the Pyrenees mountains. The Pyrenex brand journey began in 1859, when great grandfather, Abel Crabos, began collecting feathers from farms and markets. His son Rene, joined him in the family business. Rene was the captain of the French rugby team after the Great War and President of the French Rugby Federation in the 60s.

After buying a sorting machine, which was modern and specialised in raw material, the quality of the duck and goose down became so exceptional in terms of quality that it earned a reputation in demanding markets of Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Scandinavia, then to the United States and Japan. Rene’s wife, Marie Crabos, created the first down jackets in order to protect prisoners from the cold during World War II.

In 1960, Rene’s son, Andre, created the first workshops for bedding accessories such as eiderdowns, comforters, and pillows, along with some down-filled garments. Andre was the driving force behind Pyrenex for the next 50 years. 1968 was the year in which Pyrenex became the brand’s official name, named after the region which is at the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains. The Pyrenex brand began to develop sleeping bags and a range of bedding items which led to Pyrenex having the ability to design and manufacture their first down sports articles. The sleeping bags became a success among hikers, mountaineers, and lovers of the outdoors, as the sleeping bags had high compressibility and a very advantageous weight/insulation ratio.

When Louis Audoubert was chosen as a technical adviser for the Pyrenex brand, and created the first mountaineering jacket. Audoubert himself had climbed in the Pyrenees and the Himalayas and is well known worldwide. The down jackets were created especially for him and accompanied him on many of his expeditions. The very first jackets from Pyrenex were technical, design to insulate and protect the wearer from the elements.

Pyrenex was the official supplier of down for the opening ceremony of the 1992 Olympics in Albertville. In 2004, Edouard Crabos represented the fifth generation, taking over the reins of the company at the age of 32.  It wasn’t until 2005 that Pyrenex opened its first flagship store in Paris, thankful for the french brand their store was a great success and was followed by new stores in the UK, Japan, Europe, Canada and USA.  In 2019 Pyrenex celebrated its 160th birthday, and to mark the occasion Pyrenex collab with famous Pyrenean mountaineer Louis Audoubert to produce  “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” a new premium range of outdoor wear.

What Pyrenex offers

Pyrenex offers a premium line, synonymous with French excellence, placing young designers and their 160 years of history at the forefront of their designs, their aim and ambitions are to make the best outdoor wear possible. The companies development of the first technical down vests over 50 years ago, means they know a thing or two about keeping you warm. The down vest technology is still in use today, and you can still see the designs in how Pyrenex jackets are crafted today.

One of the most popular jackets Pyrenex has produced is the Sten Down Jacket. A water-resistant coat with a shiny exterior, which is crafted in France using duck down feathers to ensure the best coverage and protection in wintery conditions. Which is finalised with the classic Pyrenex motif on the left arm. Purchase the Pyrenex Sten Jacket here at Aphrodite in black, blue and red.

What does the Pyrenex logo mean?

The logo is a sign of authenticity and the Pyrenex DNA. Triangle shaped to represent the mountainous region where the brand was created and is still based today. The 3 peaks at the top of the triangle logo signify the Pyrenees which is one of the biggest mountains ranges in Europe and divides Spain and France.  Pyrenex also takes inspiration from the conditions found in the Pyrenees to design outdoor wear which will be perfectly suited to extreme altitude, cold temperatures and wintery conditions.

The Pyrenex logo was first introduced to their garments in the 1970s, to let the wearer know that this piece is a genuine Pyrenex piece. Nearly half a century later the logo is still in use and is synonymous with the brand and the Pyrenees mountain range, and authentic high-quality outdoor wear.

We are pleased to welcome Pyrenex here at Aphrodite