The company was founded in 1946 in Ward, Colorado, by Gerald "Gerry" Cunningham,[1] a veteran of the 10th Mountain Division.

[1] In 1949 Cunningham invented the Gerry Kiddie Carrier which was frameless; the frame version was patented in 1963.

[1] The company Gerry Designs, Inc. was spun off with Meg Hansson in 1960 to market the carrier to a wider audience.

[1] In 1966, Gerry alumnus Dale Johnson founded Frostline Kits, a brand of sew-it-yourself outdoor products.

[12] In 2010, the Gerry brand was bought by Studio Ray, of New York City which revamped the catalog, which included their classic outerwear and accessories.

[1] In Fall 2012, Gerry began to be sold at retailers, including Macy's, Dillard's, and The Sports Authority.