Nautica - Fashion Company Profile
Nautica is the nautical American lifestyle brand founded by David Chu in 1983 - a six-piece men's outerwear collection that grew into a global apparel, accessories and home brand, owned by Authentic Brands Group since 2018.
Company Snapshot
- Status
- Operating - a nautical lifestyle brand owned by Authentic Brands Group since April 30, 2018, and manufactured and marketed by Catalyst Brands
- Type
- Brand of Authentic Brands Group (private); previously a VF Corporation brand, 2003-2018
- Headquarters
- New York City, New York, United States
- Founded
- 1983, by clothing designer David Chu
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Company Profile
Current ranges are on the Nautica website, linked above; the shop box covers Nautica products sold through Amazon and eBay. The ownership line matters on this page because the earlier record was written under a previous owner: VF Corporation bought Nautica in 2003, and Authentic Brands Group completed its purchase of the brand from VF on April 30, 2018; the brand is now manufactured and marketed through Catalyst Brands, the operating company formed in January 2025. The fuller record - the name taken from the Latin word for ship, the spinnaker logo, the preshrunk fabrics and taped seams, and the VF chapter - is kept in full on the history page.
Founded in 1983, Nautica evolved from a collection of men's outerwear into a leading global lifestyle brand, and the filing counts its reach at more than 64 countries with more than 170 Nautica branded stores worldwide. The expansion path is the classic American sportswear story told in one sentence: begin with a single weather-facing category, outerwear, prove the name there, then extend the same visual language across a family's wardrobe and finally into the home, where the maritime palette of navy, white and signal colours translates naturally to bedding and table goods.
Nautica History
The earlier record for this company - its history, past brand line-ups, figures and photographs from the periods described - is kept on a separate page for historical reference.
Nautica History & Historical Profile →Common Questions
Who owns Nautica now?
Authentic Brands Group, which completed its purchase of Nautica from VF Corporation on April 30, 2018. The brand is manufactured and marketed by Catalyst Brands.
When was Nautica founded?
In 1983, by designer David Chu, starting with six pieces of men's outerwear inspired by nautical style; it expanded into women's and children's apparel, accessories and home products.
What does the name Nautica mean?
It comes from nauticus, the Latin word for naval or ship - the sea reference behind the brand's spinnaker logo and its sailing-inspired classics.
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