One of the world’s first denim brands was first produced in 1889 in Salina, Kansas, by Henry David Lee.
The growth of Lee was prompted by the introduction of the Union-All work jumpsuit in 1913 and their first overall in 1920. Later in the 1920s, Lee introduced a zipper fly and continued to expand.
During the 1930s and 1940s, the company became the leading manufacturer of work clothes in America and expanded into casual wear in 1954.
During the 1960s, the company expanded to 81 countries, and in 1969, it was acquired by VF Corporation.
In the 1970s, Lee shifted its focus from workwear and began catering to fashion cycles.
In 2019, Lee, Wrangler, Rock & Republic, and VF Outlet were separated from VF Corporation into Kontoor Brands. The iconic jeans are now manufactured in India, where 60,000 workers produce 5,000 pairs of jeans a day.
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