75 years and still Exploring!

Cape Union Mart is more than just a retailer. Some might say that we cater for one of man’s most primitive desires – the need to explore.

Cape Union Mart has spent the last 75 years preparing countless South Africans for holiday-making, travel and adventure - building a reputation as the country’s favourite outdoor store. The journey began in 1933, when Philip Krawitz Senior opened the very first Cape Union Mart store on the corner of Corporation and Mostert Street in Cape Town.

Cape Union Mart originated as an ‘Army and Navy Store’ and became famous for its ‘everything from an anchor to a toothpick’ product range. During the war years, Cape Union Mart supplied visiting troops with some of the luxuries and necessities associated with the military. Passing whaling ships and foreign fishermen were also catered for with a unique array of merchandise from around the world.

Cape Union Mart was the first importer of many stalwart outdoor products such as Gore-Tex foul weather clothing, Norwegian socks and Hong Kong anoraks, providing South Africans with quality, adventure-based apparel.

Then, in 1982, Cape Union Mart turned up the heat in the local outdoor industry with the introduction of K-Way technical apparel. The K-Way brand has grown in both size and stature, developing into one of the nation’s top names in technical equipment and clothing. K-Way has accompanied Sibusiso Vilane to the top of Everest, Peter Hall to the Antarctic and thousands of other explorers to the slopes of Kilimanjaro, where Cape Union Mart holds its annual staff expedition.

Today, as in 1933, Cape Union Mart remains a family run business. Philip Krawitz, grandson of the founder, is currently at the helm and continues to reinforce the same values – outstanding customer service and superlative product quality in an enticing and dynamic retail environment – that Cape Union Mart has long held as its foundation.

Enter our 75th Birthday Competition - "Partners in Adventure!"