Lands' End

Lands' End has long been an American retailer of clothing, baggage and furniture, and its appeal rests on durable, classic staples rather than fast trends. It is a dependable choice when you value longevity and a timeless look over of-the-moment styling. As with any large catalog brand, you'll get the most value by sticking to its core categories like outerwear and basics.

Both are storied American classics, and the choice usually comes down to lean: Lands' End grew out of a mail-order yachting supply company and built a name in everyday casual clothing and outerwear, while L.L. Bean skews more toward rugged outdoor gear. If you want clean, classic casualwear that crosses easily from weekend to office-adjacent, Lands' End is squarely in its lane.

Reach for the outerwear and casual basics first, since that's where the brand's heritage lies. Lands' End expanded from yachting supplies into general clothing and home furnishings in 1978, and its everyday classics are its most reliable territory. A well-made coat or a wardrobe of basics is the most representative way to try the label.

Lands' End began as a mail-order yachting supply company in 1963 in Chicago. It was founded by Gary Comer, along with his partners, the 1963 Pan American Games gold medalist sailors Richard Stearns and Robert Halperin, plus two of Stearns' employees. The sailing roots explain the brand's early focus on practical, weather-ready goods.

It started as a typo. The company is named after Land's End, a headland in western Cornwall, England, but after the promotional materials were printed the founder noticed the apostrophe had landed in the wrong spot. He could not afford to reprint everything, so the misplaced apostrophe simply stayed and became part of the brand's identity.

Lands' End is headquartered in Dodgeville, Wisconsin. The brand moved there in 1978 when it expanded from yachting supplies into general clothing and home furnishings, and it has been a Wisconsin institution ever since.

Lands' End Canvas was a more fashion-oriented offshoot. Launched in November 2009, it offered a more fashion-oriented selection of casual clothing for men and women. The line was discontinued in 2013, reintroduced in 2016, then cancelled again in 2017 by the brand's new CEO, so it's a piece of brand history rather than a current line.

Its ownership has shifted more than once. Lands' End became a public company through an IPO in October 1986, was acquired by Sears, Roebuck and Company for $2 billion in 2002, then spun back off as a publicly traded company in April 2014. Most recently, in January 2026 it agreed to form a joint venture with WHP Global, receiving $300 million in cash in exchange for contributing its intellectual property.

It's primarily a direct retailer with a modest store footprint. Lands' End launched its website, Landsend.com, in July 1995, and in fiscal 2023 the large majority of revenue came from online retail orders in the U.S., with only a small share from company-operated stores. As of February 2024 it operated 26 domestic stores, so shopping online is the main way most people buy.

Yes, one stands out. In 2016 feminist activist Gloria Steinem was featured in a Lands' End catalog; after an outcry from anti-abortion customers the company removed her from its website, which then drew further criticism from both sides. It's the kind of episode worth knowing, though it doesn't speak to the clothing itself.

It does, and it's a meaningful part of the business. In 2018 and 2019 the company produced uniforms for employees of Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, and in fiscal 2023 a sizable share of revenue came from selling logo apparel to businesses and schools. So beyond consumer catalog goods, Lands' End is also a uniform and corporate-outfitting supplier.