Lands' End jacket

Lands' End is a well-known American clothing and home furnishings retailer that trace its roots back to 1963 in Chicago. Originally founded by Gary Comer as a mail-order yachting supply company, the brand famously owes its name to a typographical error in its first catalog where the apostrophe was misplaced. Rather than reprinting the expensive materials, Comer kept the name as it was, and it has since become an iconic part of the brand's identity.

While the company was initially headquartered in Chicago, it moved to Dodgeville, Wisconsin, in 1978. Over the decades, the product line shifted from sailing gear to a broad range of classic, casual apparel. Manufacturing for Lands' End products is outsourced to a global network of supplier factories. While some products may be made in the United States, the majority of production takes place in Asian countries such as Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India.

In terms of ownership, the brand has seen several transitions. It was acquired by Sears, Roebuck and Co. in 2002 and later spun off as a public company again in 2014. As of early 2026, Lands' End entered into a significant strategic partnership with WHP Global, a prominent brand management firm. This deal involved the creation of a joint venture that holds the brand's intellectual property, with WHP Global taking a 50% controlling interest while the existing Lands' End, Inc. continues to manage its core direct-to-consumer and business-to-business operations.