Is Eastpak a subsidiary of VF Corporation?

Eastpak is a wholly owned brand of VF Corporation, integrated into its JanSport division since the 2000 acquisition. It operates as a distinct label inside the portfolio rather than as an independent subsidiary.

Is Eastpak publicly traded?

The brand itself has no listing. Its owner, VF Corporation, trades on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker VFC. Investors gain exposure to Eastpak through VF shares.

When was Eastpak founded?

Eastpak was founded in 1952 in Boston, Massachusetts, as Eastern Canvas Products, a supplier of bags and safety gear to the US Army. The consumer Eastpak brand launched in 1977, and VF Corporation acquired it in 2000.

Bernard Godfrey and Monte Goldman founded Eastern Canvas Products in 1952. Mark Goldman, Monte's son, drove the shift to consumer bags in 1976, and with Norman Jacobs built Eastpak into a college backpack leader in the 1980s.

What is Eastpak's market position?

Eastpak is a leading mid-market backpack brand with its strongest presence in Europe, where the Padded Pak'r is a category staple. It competes with JanSport, Herschel, and Fjällräven, differentiating on durability, warranty, and fashion collaborations.

Where is Eastpak headquartered?

Eastpak is headquartered in Bornem, Belgium, reflecting its European orientation under VF Corporation. The brand was originally based in Boston and later Lowell, Massachusetts, before VF shifted its center to Europe.

Fashion & Apparel

Who Owns Eastpak?

Eastpak is owned by VF Corporation, a publicly traded American apparel company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker VFC. Founded in 1952 in Boston as Eastern Canvas Products, a maker of bags and safety gear for the US Army, Eastpak launched its consumer line in 1977 and was acquired by VF from Sunbeam in 2000. The brand is now headquartered in Bornem, Belgium, with its strongest markets in Europe.

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn

Parent Company

VF Corporation

Acquired

2000

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Bornem, Belgium

Eastpak Timeline

1899

VF Corporation

Parent company established in Denver, Colorado, USA

Company Founded

1952

Eastpak

Founded by Bernard Godfrey, Monte Goldman

Founded

2000

Acquired by VF Corporation

VF Corporation acquired Eastpak

Acquired

mid rangemass marketEuropeunisexOfficial Website

Who Owns Eastpak?

Parent Company: VF Corporation
Ownership Type: Wholly owned
Acquisition Year: 2000
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: NYSE: VFC

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Eastpak	VF Corporation	Wholly owned

Where to Buy

Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases

Eastpak on Amazon

History of Eastpak

Founded: 1952
Founders: Bernard Godfrey, Monte Goldman
Acquired by VF Corporation: 2000

Eastpak began in 1952 as Eastern Canvas Products, Inc., founded in Boston, Massachusetts, by Bernard Godfrey and Monte Goldman. The company produced duffel bags, backpacks, and safety equipment for the US Army, building a reputation for durability under military contract standards.

The consumer business started in 1976 when Mark Goldman, son of Monte, joined and pushed the company toward the retail market. The first consumer line debuted at a Chicago sportswear trade fair in 1977 under the new Eastpak name. In 1980, Norman Jacobs joined, and he and Goldman built Eastpak into a leader in the US college backpack market through the 1980s and early 1990s.

Eastpak differentiated early with design. It introduced bright colors and prints to utilitarian bags in 1985, created the iconic Padded Pak'r backpack, and became the first bag brand to advertise a lifetime warranty, legally expressed as a 30-year guarantee. By the mid-1990s it was expanding in Europe, where its street-smart styling found a particularly receptive market.

Sunbeam Corporation owned the business by the late 1990s, and VF Corporation bought Eastpak from Sunbeam in March 2000, folding it into the JanSport division under president Paul Delorey. The deal gave VF a stronger European position and filled middle price points between JanSport and mass-channel lines.

Under VF, Eastpak leaned into Europe and fashion collaborations, producing collections with designers including Raf Simons, Vetements, Undercover, and MM6 Maison Margiela. Those partnerships repositioned the brand as a fashion-adjacent urban label while retaining its durable, warranty-backed core range.

About VF Corporation

What brands does VF Corporation own?
VF Corporation owns seven major brands: The North Face (outdoor apparel and equipment), Vans (skateboarding and lifestyle footwear), Timberland (outdoor footwear and apparel), Dickies (workwear), JanSport (backpacks), Smartwool (merino wool apparel), and Altra (running shoes). VF sold Supreme to EssilorLuxottica in 2024. Wrangler and Lee were separated into Kontoor Brands in 2019.

Is VF Corporation publicly traded?
Yes. VF Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol VFC. The company is a component of the S&P 500. No parent company or controlling shareholder exists. Ownership is distributed among institutional investors, mutual funds, index funds, and individual shareholders.

What is VF Corporation's revenue?
For fiscal year 2025, VF reported revenue of approximately $9.5 billion and operating profit of $303.8 million, a return to profitability after an operating loss of $143.9 million in FY2024. The North Face generated $3.7 billion in revenue, Vans approximately $2.8 billion, and Timberland approximately $1.7 billion.

Who is VF Corporation's CEO?
Bracken Darrell serves as President and CEO, having been appointed in July 2023. He previously served as CEO of Logitech International. Darrell was brought in to lead a turnaround of VF Corporation, focusing on stabilizing Vans, accelerating The North Face, optimizing the brand portfolio, and reducing costs.

What happened to Supreme?
VF acquired Supreme in December 2020 for approximately $2.1 billion, intending to expand its portfolio into streetwear. The acquisition underperformed expectations, and in July 2024, VF sold Supreme to EssilorLuxottica for $1.5 billion, resulting in a $600 million loss on the investment.

What happened to Wrangler and Lee?
In 2019, VF separated its Jeanswear division, consisting of Wrangler and Lee, into a new publicly traded company called Kontoor Brands (NYSE: KTB). The separation was completed through a tax-free spin-off to VF shareholders. Wrangler and Lee are no longer part of VF's portfolio, though they may appear in historical references.

Why did VF move to Denver?
VF moved its corporate headquarters from Greensboro, North Carolina, to Denver, Colorado, in 2016. The move was part of a strategy to align VF's corporate culture with its outdoor and active brand portfolio. Denver's outdoor lifestyle culture was seen as a better fit for a company whose primary brands were in the outdoor and active categories. VF retained significant operations in Greensboro.

How is VF's turnaround going?
VF returned to operating profitability in FY2025 with operating profit of $303.8 million, despite revenue declining from $10.5 billion to $9.5 billion. The North Face maintained growth, and Vans showed early signs of stabilization in late FY2025. The company has guided to 2 to 3 percent revenue growth in FY2026. However, Vans remains under pressure, and the turnaround is ongoing.

Founded: 1899
Headquarters: Denver, Colorado, USA
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: NYSE: VFC
Revenue: approximately $9.5 billion (FY2025)
Employees: Approximately 35,000

Visit VF Corporation website

View full company profile for VF Corporation

Where Is Eastpak Made / Based?

Headquarters: Bornem, Belgium
Manufacturing / Operations: China, Vietnam, Cambodia

Eastpak Categories & Tags

Backpacks Bags Luggage Travel Accessories American Brand

Eastpak Sustainability & Ethics

Eastpak participates in VF Corporation's group sustainability programs, which include targets for preferred materials, emissions reduction, and supply chain labor standards. The brand has introduced products made with recycled fabrics and frames its durability promise, including the 30-year warranty, as a sustainability measure that extends product life.

VF Corporation is a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and reports group-level ESG metrics. Eastpak holds no brand-specific independent certifications such as B Corp status as of November 2026; its credentials are covered under VF's corporate reporting.

Eastpak Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+VF Corporation's sourcing scale keeps costs competitive for a mid-market brand
+Sharing the JanSport division provides category expertise and retail relationships
+Strong European distribution and brand recognition
+30-year warranty reinforces a durability story competitors struggle to match
+Designer collaboration program sustains fashion relevance without losing mass appeal

Considerations

-Limited visibility in North America relative to sister brand JanSport
-VF portfolio changes and financial pressures can shift investment priorities
-Mid-market bags face pressure from both budget brands and premium labels
-No brand-specific independent sustainability certification
-Dependence on a single hero silhouette in the Padded Pak'r

Frequently Asked Questions About Eastpak

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Eastpak

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
Herschel	Herschel Supply Co	Canada	2009	Mass market	Global	Unisex
Eagle Creek	Eagle Creek Holdings	USA	1975	Premium	Global	Unisex
Osprey	Helen Of Troy	USA	1974	Premium	Global	All Genders
Peak Design	Peak Design	USA	2010	Premium	Global	All Genders