Businessweek

V.F. Corporation offers branded lifestyle apparel, footwear, and related products. The company owns a portfolio of brands in the jeanswear, outerwear, footwear, packs, luggage, sportswear, occupational, and performance apparel categories. It has operations in Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, and Latin America. Businesses The company’s businesses are organized primarily into various product categories, such as Outdoor & Action Sports, Jeanswear, Imagewear, Sportswear, and Contemporary Brands. Outdoor & Action Sports The company’s Outdoor & Action Sports is a group of authentic lifestyle brands, which are outdoor and activity-based. Product offerings include outerwear, performance wear, snow sports gear, sportswear, footwear, equipment, backpacks, luggage, and accessories. The North Face is the primary brand in the company’s Outdoor & Action Sports Coalition and is sold worldwide. (In Japan and South Korea, The North Face trademarks are owned by a third party.) The North Face apparel lines consist of performance wear, outerwear, snow sports gear, sportswear, and footwear for men, women, and children. Its equipment line consists of tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and accessories. Majority of The North Face products are designed for applications, such as high altitude mountaineering and ice and rock climbing. The North Face products are marketed through specialty outdoor and premium sporting goods stores in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia and select department stores in the United States. In addition, products are sold through approximately 100 VF-operated stores in the United States, Europe, and Asia and online at www.thenorthface.com. The brand is also sold outside the United States through agents, distributors, and approximately 390 The North Face partnership stores operated by independent third parties. The Timberland brand offers outdoor adventure and leisure products that combine performance benefits and versatile styling, including premium quality footwear, apparel, and accessories for men, women, and children. Timberland brand footwear offerings include boots, hiking boots and shoes, casual shoes, boat shoes, sandals, and custom shoes. The Timberland Boot Company is a premium footwear series that pays homage to the turn-of-the century art of shoemaking in New England. The Timberland PRO series is developed to address the footwear needs of skilled tradespeople and working professionals. The Earthkeepers collection utilizes renewable, organic, and recycled materials to reduce environmental impact. The company sells Timberland products to retailers on a wholesale basis, as well as through independent distributors and licensees. In addition, it sells these products through 200 VF-operated stores, approximately 430 independently-operated partnership stores, and online at www.timberland.com. Vans brand performance and casual footwear and apparel is designed for skateboard, bicycle motocross, surf and snow sports participants, and enthusiasts. Products are sold on a wholesale basis through national chain stores, through skate and surf shops, and specialty stores in the United States. Products are sold through approximately 350 VF-operated Vans stores located in North America, Europe, and Asia; through approximately 150 partnership stores operated by independent third parties primarily in Asia; and online at www.vans.com. The retail stores carry various Vans footwear, along with an assortment of apparel and accessory items. The company is the 70% owner of the Vans Warped Tour music festival, which presents approximately 45 rock bands performing in approximately 40 cities across North America each summer. Kipling handbags, luggage, backpacks, totes, and accessories are stylish, colorful, and fun products that. That heritage also provides the connection to the Kipling monkey mascot key ring attached to every bag. Products are sold through specialty and department stores in Europe, Asia, and South America, as well as through 35 VF-operated stores, approximately 125 independently-operated partnership stores, and at www.kipling.com. The Kipling business in North America is managed as part of the