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The Brand Ledger

Kipling

Belgian nylon bag brand with the signature monkey key chain.

Status: Former Great
Founded
1987
HQ
Belgium
Manufacturing
Vietnam,China,Various
Ownership type
Conglomerate subsidiary
Parent
VF Corporation
Acquired
2004

Ownership

Acquired by VF Corporation in 2004.

Why Former Great

VF portfolio brand subject to the same cost-optimization strategy.

Sister brands under VF Corporation

See all 4 sister brands

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Investigation · March 23, 2026

Your Backpack Got Worse On Purpose

VF Corporation owns about 55% of the US backpack market. JanSport, The North Face, Eastpak, Kipling. Lower denier counts, generic zippers, warranties rewritten to match the cheaper construction.

Read the full investigation