Lands' End
An American retailer of classic clothing, accessories, luggage, and home products that began as a mail-order yachting-supply company.
Last updated October 19, 2026
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Overview
Lands' End is an American apparel and home-products retailer whose origins lie in a Chicago mail-order business for sailing and yachting equipment. Gary Comer founded the company in 1963 with sailors Richard Stearns and Robert Halperin and other partners. The business took its name from Land's End, the coastal headland in Cornwall, England; an apostrophe-positioning error in early promotional materials was retained because correcting the printed material would have been too expensive. The company initially served sailing enthusiasts through catalogs, but broadened its assortment in the late 1970s. In 1978 it moved into general clothing and home furnishings and relocated its headquarters to Dodgeville, Wisconsin. This expansion helped establish the identity for which Lands' End became known: practical, durable, comfortable products presented in a relatively classic American style. Its assortment developed to include casual and dress clothing for women, men, and children; outerwear; swimwear; school and corporate uniforms; luggage and bags; and selected home furnishings and household textiles. Lands' End became a public company through an initial public offering in October 1986. During the late 1980s it also supplied jerseys to the United States national rugby union team, an early example of the brand's connection to performance and sporting apparel. The company launched Landsend.com in July 1995, adding a direct digital channel to its established catalog operation. E-commerce later became central to the business, while catalogs, stores, wholesale relationships, marketplace sales, and business-to-business logo apparel continued to support the brand. Sears, Roebuck and Company acquired Lands' End in 2002 for $2 billion in cash. Under Sears ownership, Lands' End products were distributed through Sears stores as well as the brand's own channels. Lands' End was spun off from Sears in April 2014 and returned to independent public-company status. The separation was followed by further channel experimentation, including international commerce through Borderfree, marketplace sales through Amazon, a partnership with Kohl's, and digital and television commerce through QVC. Lands' End also supplied employee uniforms for Delta Air Lines and American Airlines in 2018 and 2019. The brand has periodically tested new positioning. Lands' End Canvas, introduced in 2009, offered a more fashion-oriented casual assortment, was discontinued in 2013, briefly revived in 2016, and discontinued again in 2017. The company has otherwise remained associated with dependable wardrobe staples, outerwear, swimwear, school and workplace apparel, and home goods rather than rapid-fashion trends. In 2019 it ended its remaining Sears store-within-a-store presence after Sears Holdings entered bankruptcy proceedings. A Kohl's partnership began in 2020, extending physical distribution beyond the company's own stores. Lands' End operates primarily through digital retail and direct-to-consumer channels, with additional sales from international orders, business and school logo apparel, third-party sellers, and company-operated stores. It had 26 domestic stores as of February 2024. The business continues to position itself around quality, comfort, durability, accessible classic style, and customer service. In January 2026, it agreed to form an equal joint venture with WHP Global, under which Lands' End would contribute its intellectual property in exchange for cash and royalty payments. The reported transaction and subsequent leadership developments are future-dated relative to much of the company's established history and should be verified against finalized filings.
History
Lands' End was established in Chicago in 1963 as a mail-order supplier of yachting equipment. Its founding group included Gary Comer, Pan American Games gold-medalist sailor Richard Stearns, Robert Halperin, and two employees of Stearns. The name refers to Land's End in Cornwall, England. A mistake in the placement of the apostrophe appeared in early promotional materials and was retained because the company could not afford to reprint them. The business initially focused on the specialist sailing market, using catalogs to reach customers outside conventional retail locations. In 1978 it broadened its assortment into general apparel and home furnishings and moved its headquarters to Dodgeville, Wisconsin. This transition transformed Lands' End from a niche marine supplier into a broader lifestyle retailer. Its identity came to rest on functional products, durable construction, conservative styling, and customer-oriented direct selling. The company went public in October 1986. In the late 1980s it supplied jerseys to the United States national rugby union team, connecting its apparel business with organized sport. Its catalog model was later supplemented by digital commerce: Landsend.com launched in July 1995. The company also pursued international distribution, including a 2013 Borderfree arrangement that enabled international shoppers to view prices and complete orders in local currencies, followed by arrangements with Debenhams and House of Fraser. Sears, Roebuck and Company acquired Lands' End in 2002 for $2 billion in cash. Sears distributed Lands' End merchandise through many of its stores, while the brand retained its own catalog and online operations. Lands' End became independent again in April 2014 when Sears completed a corporate spin-off. Subsequent initiatives included the 2009 introduction of Lands' End Canvas, a more fashion-focused casual line. Canvas was withdrawn in 2013, revived in 2016, and discontinued in 2017. The independent company broadened its sales network through Amazon in 2018, corporate and airline uniform contracts, a Kohl's partnership beginning in 2020, and QVC commerce beginning in 2021 with video-selling expansion in 2022. Its Sears store-within-a-store presence ended in 2019 after Sears Holdings entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy. By fiscal 2023, the company's disclosed revenue mix was predominantly online U.S. retail, with additional contributions from international orders, business and school logo apparel, third-party sellers, and company-operated stores. As of February 2024, Lands' End operated 26 domestic stores. The company has also been recognized as an employer; Fortune included it among its 1998 list of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America. In January 2026, Lands' End reportedly agreed to establish an equal joint venture with WHP Global, contributing its intellectual property in return for $300 million in cash and royalty payments. In July 2026, Charlie Cole was reported as taking over as chief executive. These future-dated developments require confirmation through company filings and finalized transaction documents.
- 2020
Kohl's partnership
[1]The company begins selling products through Kohl's stores.
- 2014
Corporate spin-off
[1]Lands' End becomes independent from Sears and returns to public trading.
- 2002
Acquired by Sears
[1]Sears acquires Lands' End for $2 billion in cash.
- 1995
Landsend.com launches
[1]The retailer adds an online sales channel to its catalog operations.
- 1986
Initial public offering
[1]Lands' End becomes publicly traded in October.
- 1978
Expansion into apparel and home furnishings
[1]The company broadens beyond marine supplies and moves its headquarters to Dodgeville, Wisconsin.
- 1963
Mail-order yachting company founded
[1]Lands' End begins in Chicago selling sailing and yachting equipment through mail-order catalogs.
Products and positioning
Accessible premium mass-market retail centered on classic American style, durability, comfort, practical design, and broad sizing.
Clothing · 1978
Apparel
Lands' End's core apparel assortment covers women's, men's, and children's clothing, including polos, shirts, trousers, dresses, sweaters, casual basics, and seasonal garments. The range is built around accessible classic styling, comfort, practical fabrics, and broad everyday use rather than short-lived fashion trends.
Apparel
Outerwear
Outerwear includes coats, jackets, parkas, down products, rainwear, and cold-weather layers. These products reinforce the brand's traditional emphasis on warmth, durability, weather protection, and dependable seasonal dressing.
Apparel
Swimwear
Swimwear is a longstanding branded category, covering women's, men's, and children's bathing suits and related beachwear. The assortment is associated with practical construction, coverage options, and a broad range of sizes and silhouettes.
Travel goods
Luggage and bags
The company sells travel and carrying products such as luggage, totes, backpacks, and related bags. The category extends Lands' End's original functional orientation into everyday travel and utility products.
Home furnishings · 1978
Home products
Home merchandise includes furnishings, household textiles, and other domestic products. The category dates from the company's 1978 expansion and complements its apparel business with similarly practical, traditional styling.
Business-to-business apparel
Logo apparel and uniforms
Lands' End supplies customized apparel for businesses, schools, teams, and organizations. The program has included airline employee uniforms and other logo garments, creating a business-to-business channel alongside consumer retail.
Casual clothing line · 2009
Lands' End Canvas
Canvas was a more fashion-oriented casual clothing line for men and women. It launched in 2009, was discontinued in 2013, revived in 2016, and discontinued again in 2017.
Controversies
2020
Lands' End faces lawsuits over Delta employee uniforms
Lands' End faces multiple lawsuits from Delta Air Lines employees who claim that required uniforms manufactured by the clothing company caused severe medical problems. The supplied text does not establish a court finding on the allegations.
2016
Controversy over Gloria Steinem promotion
A catalog appearance by Gloria Steinem led to objections from anti-abortion customers. Lands' End removed her from its website, which then produced further criticism from customers who opposed the removal and from customers who had opposed the original feature.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Gloria Steinem catalog feature
United States
Lands' End featured feminist activist Gloria Steinem in catalog and online promotional material. The appearance generated criticism from some anti-abortion customers, after which the company removed Steinem from its website. The removal itself prompted additional criticism from customers who objected either to the original feature or to the company's reversal.
Outcome. The feature was removed from the website and the company faced criticism from opposing customer groups.
Brand decisions
2026
Proposed WHP Global joint ventureM&ABackground
Lands' End agreed to combine its intellectual property with WHP Global in a proposed equal ownership structure.
Action taken
Lands' End would contribute all of its intellectual property, receive $300 million in cash and royalty payments, and share ownership of the joint venture equally with WHP Global.
Aftermath
The transaction's closing status and final terms should be verified through company filings.
Cash consideration. $300 million (January 2026 proposed agreement)
2020
Expand through Kohl'sStrategyBackground
Lands' End sought additional physical distribution after its separation from Sears.
Action taken
The company entered a partnership to sell Lands' End products in Kohl's stores.
Aftermath
The agreement added a national department-store channel alongside Lands' End's direct retail operations.
2014
Separate from SearsM&ABackground
Sears completed a corporate restructuring involving Lands' End.
Action taken
Lands' End was spun off and once again became an independently traded public company.
Aftermath
The company expanded its independent digital, marketplace, wholesale, and partnership channels.
2002
Accept Sears acquisitionM&ABackground
Lands' End was an established public catalog retailer seeking broader distribution and corporate scale.
Action taken
The company was acquired by Sears, Roebuck and Company in an all-cash transaction.
Aftermath
Lands' End merchandise was distributed through many Sears stores until the companies separated in 2014; the remaining Sears shop-in-shop presence ended in 2019.
Acquisition value. $2 billion cash transaction (2002)
Recent events
- 2026
Lands' End agrees to form joint venture with WHP Global[1]
M&A
The reported agreement would create an equally owned joint venture, with Lands' End contributing its intellectual property and receiving cash and royalty payments.
- 2026
Lands' End appoints Charlie Cole as chief executive[1]
Leadership change
Charlie Cole was reported as becoming chief executive after serving as interim chief digital officer at bedding company Thuma.
- 2020
Lands' End begins Kohl's partnership[1]
Other
A partnership with Kohl's placed Lands' End products in Kohl's stores and expanded the brand's physical distribution.
- 2019
Lands' End ends remaining Sears store-within-a-store operations[1]
Bankruptcy
The company closed its remaining Sears-based shop-in-shop locations following Sears Holdings' Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.
- 2018
Lands' End expands marketplace and partnership distribution[1]
Other
The company began selling through Amazon and supplied uniforms for Delta Air Lines and American Airlines during 2018 and 2019.
- 2017
Lands' End appoints Jerome Griffith as chief executive[1]
Leadership change
Jerome Griffith became chief executive, succeeding Federica Marchionni.
- 2014
Lands' End is spun off from Sears[1]
M&A
Sears completed the corporate separation of Lands' End, which returned to independent public trading.
- 2002
Sears acquires Lands' End[1]
M&A
Sears, Roebuck and Company acquired Lands' End in an all-cash transaction reported at $2 billion.
- 1995
Lands' End launches its website[1]
Product launch
The company introduced Landsend.com, adding an online direct-sales channel to its catalog business.
Sources8 sources
- 1Lands' Enden.wikipedia.org
- 2Lands' End official websitelandsend.com
- 3Lands' End faces lawsuits over Delta employee uniformsjournaltimes.com
- 4Catalog favorite Lands' End opens first Dallas store with digital perkdallas.culturemap.com
- 5Lands' End Launches New Branded Credit Card To Better Serve Customers, Drive Loyaltyprnewswire.com
- 6Lands’ End opens rare retail store at Fair Lakes – WTOP Newswtop.com
- 7Lands' End Partners with Iowa County Health Department to Support the Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccinesprnewswire.com
- 8Lands' End Partners with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation for the Sixth Straight Yearprnewswire.com
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