Columbia releases PDX carpet fleece for a limited time

Columbia Sportswear is giving Oregon lovers a chance to wear the iconic Portland Airport carpet in sweater form.

The Portland-founded company is celebrating 35 years of its Helvetia fleece with a limited-edition design featuring the familiar green carpet pattern at Portland International Airport.

The fleece is the first in a series of anniversary releases for Helvetia, which Columbia introduced in 1991. It will be available in men’s and women’s sizes for $100 each.

According to The Oregonian, Columbia announced the collaboration Tuesday, describing the design as “a piece of Portland nostalgia.”

Here’s what to know about the fleece and where to find it.

Why did Columbia choose the PDX carpet?

The airport carpet has become one of Portland’s most recognizable designs, especially for travelers who have stopped to take a photo of their shoes before a flight or after arriving home.

According to The Oregonian, the original carpet was installed in 1988 and remained at the airport for nearly three decades before crews began replacing it in 2015.

Its removal drew enough attention that the carpet was named grand marshal of the Portland Rose Festival’s Starlight Parade that year.

The pattern has since appeared on beer cans, shoes, and Portland Trail Blazers merchandise. Columbia’s new fleece adds another item to that list.

The familiar design also returned to parts of PDX during its main terminal renovation. The Oregonian reports that two new meet-and-greet areas unveiled this year feature the carpet.

Where can you buy the PDX carpet fleece?

The fleece will be released Thursday, Oct. 15, on Columbia’s website and at select stores, including the downtown Portland flagship and the company’s PDX store.

Columbia Greater Rewards members can access the fleece online beginning Wednesday, Oct. 14, according to the company’s product listing.

The airport store will host a DJ from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday to celebrate the release.

You can find the men’s and women’s PDX carpet fleeces on Columbia’s website.