Brand · American apparel est. 1973

CHEROKEE

From Venice Beach footwear to a global lifestyle label sold across 110 countries.

CHEROKEE
Re-checked daily
Founded in 1973 when James Argyropoulos began selling custom footwear from his Venice Beach home, Cherokee grew into an American apparel and footwear brand now available in 110 countries and 12,000 retail locations.

Stocked early by Macy's and Bloomingdale's, the brand expanded into women's and children's apparel in the 1980s and went worldwide. A defining partnership with Target arrived in the 1990s, and the core Cherokee line is now licensed in over 50 countries, with Cherokee Workwear (introduced in 2004) making medical scrubs.

Headquartered in Sherman Oaks, California, the company — also known as Apex Global Brands — built a house of labels including Tony Hawk Signature Apparel, Hi-Tec, Magnum and Liz Lange. In 2021, Apex Global Brands was acquired by Galaxy Universal.

The CHEROKEE pieces worth knowing

Women's 3-Pocket V-Neck Stretch Scrub Top
WW Revolution
Women's 3-Pocket V-Neck Stretch Scrub Top
The bestselling stretch V-neck that defines Cherokee’s modern shift uniform.
$26 at Cherokee Uniforms
Women's Tapered Leg Drawstring Scrub Pant
WW Revolution
Women's Tapered Leg Drawstring Scrub Pant
A tapered everyday scrub pant with the softness that made Revolution stick.
$30 at Cherokee Uniforms
Women's Shaped 3-Pocket Mock Wrap Scrub Top
WW Revolution
Women's Shaped 3-Pocket Mock Wrap Scrub Top
The mock-wrap top that gives Cherokee’s workwear a softer, shaped line.
$27 at Cherokee Uniforms
Unisex V-Neck 1-Pocket Scrub Top
WW Originals
Unisex V-Neck 1-Pocket Scrub Top
The extra-roomy one-pocket scrub top from the collection Cherokee says started it all.
$15 at Cherokee Uniforms
Men's Drawstring Cargo Scrub Pant
WW Originals
Men's Drawstring Cargo Scrub Pant
The zip-fly cargo pant that carries the utilitarian side of Cherokee Originals.
$23 at Cherokee Uniforms
Women's Split Round Neck Solid Scrub Top
Infinity
Women's Split Round Neck Solid Scrub Top
A sporty split-neck Infinity top with rib-knit function built into the shape.
$36 at Cherokee Uniforms
Women's 3-Pocket Knit Panel V-Neck Scrub Top
Infinity
Women's 3-Pocket Knit Panel V-Neck Scrub Top
The knit-panel Infinity V-neck built for movement without losing a classic neckline.
$37 at Cherokee Uniforms
Women's Zip Front 3-Pocket Warm Up Scrub Jacket
Infinity Pursuit
Women's Zip Front 3-Pocket Warm Up Scrub Jacket
A zip-front warm-up jacket that gives Infinity its sharpest athletic layer.
$50 at Cherokee Uniforms
Women's 5-Pocket Trouser Scrub Pant
FORM
Women's 5-Pocket Trouser Scrub Pant
The polished FORM trouser pant that makes scrubs look intentionally tailored.
$53 at Cherokee Uniforms
Women's Tuck-In Knit Mesh V-Neck Scrub Top
FORM
Women's Tuck-In Knit Mesh V-Neck Scrub Top
A tuck-in FORM V-neck with power mesh edges and a sleeker performance finish.
$35 at Cherokee Uniforms
Women's 2-Pocket V-Neck Scrub Top
Achieve
Women's 2-Pocket V-Neck Scrub Top
Cherokee’s plush Comfort Pro™ V-neck built around ease and durability.
$26 at Cherokee Uniforms
Women's Modern Lightweight 30" Lab Coat
Project Lab
Women's Modern Lightweight 30" Lab Coat
The lightweight white coat that anchors Cherokee’s clinical outer layer.
$30 at Cherokee Uniforms
Women's Luxe Support 15-20 mmHg Compression Sock
Cherokee Footwear
Women's Luxe Support 15-20 mmHg Compression Sock
The compression sock that turns long-shift support into a visible Cherokee accessory.
$22 at Cherokee Uniforms

CHEROKEE shopping FAQ

Is Cherokee a good clothing brand?+

Cherokee built its name on affordable, everyday American apparel and footwear, and it is now available in 110 countries across 12,000 retail locations. It is positioned as accessible casual clothing rather than luxury, so the appeal is dependable basics at a friendly price. For wardrobe staples and family clothing, that broad, long-running reach is part of the reassurance.

Is Cherokee still sold at Target?+

The relationship has changed over time. Cherokee established a partnership with Target in the 1990s and was a fixture there for years, but Target announced the brand would no longer be carried once its license expired on 31 January 2017. Some Target shops have since carried Cherokee products again on a non-exclusive basis, so availability varies by store.

Are Cherokee Workwear scrubs good?+

Cherokee Workwear is the brand's medical scrubs line, introduced in 2004, and scrubs are its core purpose. Because the line is purpose-built for clinical wear, shoppers generally turn to it for durable, washable everyday uniforms at an accessible price. If you need reliable scrubs rather than fashion pieces, it is squarely aimed at you.

Where can I buy Cherokee products?+

Cherokee has unusually wide distribution: its brands are available in 110 countries, across 12,000 retail locations and through digital commerce. The eponymous Cherokee brand alone is licensed in over 50 countries. Practically, that means you can usually find it through major retailers and online rather than needing a single flagship.

When was Cherokee founded and by whom?+

Cherokee was established in 1973 by James Argyropoulos, the son of a Greek immigrant, who launched custom-made footwear designs and sold them from his Venice Beach, California home. The shoes were soon stocked by department stores including Macy's and Bloomingdale's. From those footwear roots the company grew into a broad apparel and lifestyle business.

Is Cherokee an American brand?+

Yes. Cherokee Inc., also known as Apex Global Brands, is an American global apparel and footwear company headquartered in Sherman Oaks, California. It began in Venice Beach in 1973 and has stayed rooted in Southern California. From there it expanded worldwide, reaching customers in 110 countries.

How did Cherokee grow from a footwear company into an apparel brand?+

It started with custom footwear sold from the founder's Venice Beach home in 1973, quickly picked up by Macy's and Bloomingdale's. In the early 1980s the brand expanded into women's and children's apparel and became available worldwide. The big consumer breakthrough came with its 1990s partnership with Target, which made Cherokee a household name.

Who owns Cherokee now?+

The company, by then operating as Apex Global Brands, was acquired by Galaxy Universal in 2021. Cherokee had long run as a licensing-driven business, owning a portfolio of brands rather than just one label. That structure is central to how the name reaches so many markets.

What other brands does Cherokee own?+

Cherokee is really a family of fashion and lifestyle labels. Alongside the core Cherokee and Cherokee Workwear lines, its portfolio has included Tony Hawk Signature Apparel, Liz Lange maternity wear, Sideout, Hi-Tec, Magnum and Flip Flop Shops, among others. So the Cherokee name sits at the centre of a much wider licensing business.

Did Cherokee ever face financial trouble?+

Yes, openly so. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in both 1993 and 1994, but continued to trade through it. It went on to recover and expand significantly, acquiring brands such as Sideout in 1997 and the Tony Hawk apparel lines in 2014. The early-1990s difficulties are part of its documented history rather than a hidden chapter.

What is Cherokee Workwear known for?+

Cherokee Workwear is the brand's medical scrubs line, introduced in 2004. It is the part of the business aimed squarely at healthcare workers who need durable, practical uniforms. If you associate Cherokee mainly with casual clothing, Workwear is the dedicated branch that focuses on the clinical setting.