Brand profile

Lee

Heritage American denim brand founded in 1889, spanning mainline jeans and the premium selvedge-focused Lee 101 line.

GreensboroOrigin

WomenswearFocus

Workwear / HeritageStyle

$$Price

Shop Lee ↗

4 brands like Lee like Levi’s, Wrangler, Dickies →

What to know about Lee

Built for miners, not malls

Founded in 1889 by H.D. Lee in Salina, Kansas, the label started as workwear for farmers, miners and railroad crews before becoming a mass-market denim brand.

Two Lees at two prices

The mainline sits in the low-to-mid tier across jeans, jackets and shirts, while the separate Lee 101 line uses Japanese selvedge denim from mills like Kaihara.

Ownership has changed hands repeatedly

Spun out of VF Corporation into Kontoor Brands in 2019 and agreed for sale to Authentic Brands Group in May 2026, so the brand's direction is tied to its new owner.

StyleWorkwear / Heritage Streetwear

If you like Lee

91% match

Levi’s

$$Classic jeansSan Francisco, United States

Same 5-pocket heritage denim canon, bigger archive reissues

What changes: Broader global scale and a deeper premium LVC selvedge program

Shop Levi’s 24 brands like Levi’s →

89% match

Wrangler

$$Western denimGreensboro, United States

Kontoor sibling with a western rather than farm-workwear lean

What changes: Cowboy Cut/bootcut western identity over Lee's slimmer heritage fits

Shop Wrangler 25 brands like Wrangler →

74% match

Dickies

$$Work pantsFort Worth, United States

Work pants and twill instead of denim-first

What changes: Cotton twill 874 uniform staples, minimal selvedge or raw denim

Shop Dickies 28 brands like Dickies →

72% match

Carhartt

$$WorkwearDetroit, United States

Same 1889 workwear roots, duck canvas over denim

What changes: Heavier utility construction, built for job sites not vintage fits

Shop Carhartt 32 brands like Carhartt →

Brand facts

Lee is an American denim and casual apparel label founded by H.D. Lee in Salina, Kansas in 1889, originally supplying workwear to farmers, miners and railroad workers. It now makes jeans, pants, jackets, shirts and shorts for men, women and kids, plus the premium Lee 101 heritage line built on Japanese selvedge denim from mills like Kaihara and sold through specialists such as Cultizm. Spun off from VF Corporation into Kontoor Brands in 2019, Lee was agreed for divestiture to Authentic Brands Group in May 2026 for $750 million plus a $250 million earnout, pending closing.

Founded: 1889
Origin: Greensboro, United States
Price: $$
Focus: Womenswear
Styles: Workwear / Heritage, Streetwear

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