VF Corporation is an American worldwide apparel and footwear company founded in 1899 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The company's more than 30 brands are organized into three categories: Outdoor, Active and Work. The company controls 55% of the U.S. backpack market with the JanSport, Eastpak, Timberland and North Face brands.
History
The company was established first as Reading Glove and Mitten Manufacturing Company in Pennsylvania in October 1899 by John Barbey and a group of investors. The company started with $11,000 in a factory that was leased for $60/month. It was incorporated in Pennsylvania on December 4 of that same year. The manufacture of undergarments began in 1919, accompanied by a name change to Vanity Fair Mills. Shares were initially sold to the public in 1951. The H.D. Lee Company was acquired by the company in 1969 and the corporate name was changed to VF Corporation to reflect the more diverse product line. Blue Bell Inc., the owner of such brands as Wrangler and JanSport, was acquired in 1986, effectively doubling the size of VF and making it the largest publicly held clothing company. In 1998, VF moved its headquarters from Wyomissing, Pennsylvania to Greensboro, North Carolina to be closer to more of its operations. The company sold its "Vanity Fair" lingerie business to Fruit of the Loom for $350 million in cash on January 23, 2007. On February 28, 2007, VF Corporation acquired Majestic Athletic. On July 26, 2007, VF Corporation announced the purchase of 7 for all Mankind and Lucy Activewear for a combined $885 million. Eric C. Wiseman became President, CEO, and Chairman in 2008. Effective January 1, 2017 Steve Rendle took over CEO and President responsibilities. In 2011, VF Corporation announced its intention to purchase Timberland for $2.2 billion. The deal closed in September 2011. On December 21, 2012, VF Imagewear was awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to provide uniforms and insignia for Customs and Border Protection officers. In February 2013, Imagewear was awarded a $50-million contract to manufacture uniforms for Transportation Security Administration officers.
Spinoff
In August 2018, it was announced that VF would be splitting into two separate companies. The jeans and outlet stores would be spun off as Kontoor Brands. VF maintained the sports apparel and footwear businesses and moved their corporate headquarters to Denver, Colorado. An 11-story office building at 1551 Wewatta Street near Denver Union Station will become the new headquarters. Kontoor Brands Inc. became a separate company with the stock symbol KTB on May 23, 2019. Kontoor includes Lee, Wrangler, Rock & Republic and VF Outlets. The company had 17,000 employees, 600 at the headquarters, at 400 North Elm Street in Greensboro, and merchandising, design, product development and innovation at Revolution Mill. A support center is located on South Elm-Eugene Street. Lee moved to Elm Street from Merriam, Kansas. CEO Scott Baxter said the name Kontoor referred to the "contour" of the body, but the original spelling could not be used.
Horace Small, a clothing company based in Nashville, Tennessee, that produces uniforms for law enforcement, fire, EMS, security and land management services. It was founded in 1937. In 1999 the company was acquired by VF Corporation, and was renamed as The Force in 2005 but reverted to the original brand name in 2010.
In 1970, it was the suggestion of M.O. Lee, then President of VF Corporation, that established the VF Outlet business. Surplus products from VF sources including Berkshire International and Vanity Fair were sold to the public from a 5,000 square footfactory store, with only a drop cloth separating it from the company's manufacturing facility. In doing so, VF Corporation created a brand-new retail industry, the outlet mall. The first VF Outlet factory store opened in Reading, Pennsylvania. The outlet mall, located in Vanity Fair's old manufacturing mills, was dubbed the official "Outlet Capital of the World." The corporate name was changed from VF Outlet Village to VF Outlet Center in 2008. Today, the VF Outlet Center is owned and operated by VF Outlet, Inc. with over 1,000,000 square feet of retail space and more than 20 stores. VF Outlet stores offer everyday apparel including brand name jeans, intimate apparel, activewear, swimwear, and more for women, men and children. The company currently operates 79 stores in 31 states nationwide. In October 2013, VF Outlet launched their E-commerce store. The VF Outlet business moved to Kontoor Brands Inc., established as a separate company May 23, 2019.
