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 Wrangler and Lee are no longer part of VF's portfolio, though they may appear in historical references.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.

VF Corporation traces its origins to 1899 when John Barbey founded the Reading Glove and Mitten Manufacturing Company in Reading, Pennsylvania. The company initially produced gloves and mittens and expanded into other apparel categories throughout the early 20th century.

In 1919, the company changed its name to Vanity Fair Mills and began focusing on lingerie and intimate apparel. The company went public in 1951, listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Throughout the mid-20th century, VF expanded through acquisitions and diversification, becoming a major player in the American apparel industry.

The 1960s and 1970s marked significant expansion through strategic acquisitions. VF acquired Blue Bell in 1986, which brought Wrangler and Lee into the portfolio. These acquisitions established VF as a major player in denim and casual apparel, making it one of the largest jeanswear companies in the world.

The 2000s saw VF transform its portfolio through strategic acquisitions of outdoor and lifestyle brands. The company acquired The North Face in 2000 for approximately $25.4 million, Vans in 2004 for approximately $396 million, and Timberland in 2011 for approximately $2 billion. These acquisitions shifted VF's focus toward outdoor and lifestyle categories, establishing the company as a leader in the global outdoor and action sports market.

In 2016, VF moved its corporate headquarters from Greensboro, North Carolina, to Denver, Colorado, as part of a strategy to align its corporate culture with its outdoor and active brand portfolio. The company retained significant operations in Greensboro.

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. This move allowed VF to focus on its outdoor and active brands while allowing the jeanswear business to operate independently. However, VF's brand listings still reference Wrangler and Lee in some contexts due to historical association.

In December 2020, VF acquired Supreme, the New York-based streetwear brand, for approximately $2.1 billion. Supreme was known for its limited-drop model and strong brand cachet among younger consumers. The acquisition was intended to expand VF's portfolio into streetwear and leverage Supreme's direct-to-consumer model. However, the acquisition underperformed expectations, and in 2024, VF sold Supreme to EssilorLuxottica for $1.5 billion, taking a loss on the investment.

In 2023, VF faced increasing pressure from activist investor Engaged Capital, which called for changes in leadership and strategy. Bracken Darrell was appointed as CEO in July 2023 to lead a turnaround. Darrell initiated a comprehensive restructuring program, including cost reductions, portfolio optimization, and a renewed focus on VF's core brands.

In FY2025, VF returned to operating profitability despite declining revenue, demonstrating progress on cost reduction and operational efficiency. The company continues to face challenges at Vans, which has struggled with declining demand and brand relevance, but has shown improvement in recent quarters.

VF Corporation has been a leader in sustainability within the apparel and footwear industry. The company has committed to science-based targets for greenhouse gas emissions reduction, including a goal to achieve net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2050. VF's near-term targets include a 55 percent reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 30 percent reduction in scope 3 emissions by 2030, from a 2019 baseline.

The company has made significant investments in sustainable materials. The North Face has introduced recycled materials in its products and has committed to using 100 percent recycled, regenerative, or responsibly sourced materials for key fabrics by 2030. Timberland has a long-standing commitment to responsible sourcing of leather and rubber.

VF publishes an annual Environmental and Social Responsibility report that covers environmental performance, labor practices, supply chain ethics, and social impact initiatives. The company is a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and uses the Higg Index to measure sustainability performance.

On labor practices, VF operates a global supply chain with manufacturing primarily conducted by third-party suppliers in Asia. The company has a supplier code of conduct and conducts audits to monitor compliance with labor standards, including working conditions, wages, and hours. VF has faced scrutiny over working conditions in its supply chain, particularly in Vietnam and Bangladesh, and has implemented remediation programs to address identified issues.

VF has been recognized for its diversity and inclusion programs, including its commitment to gender equality in leadership positions. The company has set targets for increasing representation of women and underrepresented groups in its workforce and leadership.

• Dow Jones Sustainability Index inclusion (multiple years), recognizing VF's environmental, social, and governance performance
• Corporate Equality Index (multiple years), recognizing VF's LGBTQ+ workplace equality policies
• Forbes World's Most Admired Companies (multiple years), recognizing VF's reputation in the apparel industry
• Newsweek America's Most Responsible Companies (multiple years), recognizing VF's sustainability and social responsibility programs

VF Corporation has faced scrutiny typical of large apparel and footwear companies, including supply chain labor practices, environmental impact, and brand management decisions.

Vans Decline and Brand Management: The significant decline in Vans' revenue has drawn criticism from investors and analysts. VF acquired Vans in 2004 for approximately $396 million and grew it into a billion-dollar brand, but the brand has struggled in recent years as fashion trends shifted. Critics have argued that VF failed to innovate sufficiently at Vans and relied too heavily on the brand's existing product lines. The company has acknowledged these challenges and is investing in product innovation and marketing to revitalize the brand.

Supreme Acquisition and Divestiture: VF's acquisition of Supreme in 2020 for $2.1 billion and subsequent sale to EssilorLuxottica in 2024 for $1.5 billion resulted in a $600 million loss. The acquisition was criticized at the time for overpaying and for potentially diluting Supreme's brand cachet by integrating it into a large corporate portfolio. The divestiture was viewed as an acknowledgment that the acquisition did not meet expectations.

Supply Chain Labor Practices: VF has faced scrutiny over working conditions in its global supply chain, particularly in factories in Vietnam, Bangladesh, and other Asian manufacturing hubs. The company has implemented audit programs and remediation efforts, but labor rights organizations have periodically raised concerns about wage levels, working hours, and safety conditions at supplier factories.

Environmental Impact: The apparel and footwear industry is a significant contributor to global pollution and carbon emissions. VF has set ambitious sustainability targets, but environmental advocates have called for faster progress and greater transparency. The company's use of synthetic materials, including polyester and nylon, has been criticized for contributing to microplastic pollution.

Activist Investor Pressure: Engaged Capital, an activist investor, acquired a stake in VF in 2022 and pushed for strategic changes, including leadership changes, brand divestitures, and cost reductions. This pressure led to the appointment of Bracken Darrell as CEO and the initiation of a comprehensive restructuring program. The activist campaign highlighted concerns about VF's brand management, capital allocation, and governance.