THE COMPANY YOU KNOW TODAY AS WILSONS LEATHER ORIGINALLY STARTED AS BERMAN BROTHERS FUR, WOOL AND HIDES. FOUNDED IN 1899 IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, BROTHERS DAVID, EPHRAIM AND ALEXANDER BERMAN BEGAN BUYING DEER PELTS AND FUR AT THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER`S EDGE FROM MINNESOTA`S INDIGENOUS PEOPLE AND LOCAL FRONTIERSMAN. IN 1946 AFTER WWII ENDED, WEARING FUR WAS NO LONGER POPULAR. IN RESPONSE, THE COMPANY REINVENTED ITSELF AS BERMAN BUCKSKIN, CO. AND BECAME KNOWN FOR ITS DEERSKIN JACKETS AND NATIVE AMERICAN MOTIFS.