Worse on Purpose

Apparel

48 brands in the Ledger.

Workwear, outerwear, basics. Heritage brands and the licensing firms feeding on them.

48 results

Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Lands' End
Status: Avoid
American direct-mail apparel brand founded by Gary Comer in 1963. Built its reputation on durable basics, generous returns, and customer service before passing through Sears (2002-2014) and a decade of public-market ownership.
WHP Global (controlling stake); LEWHP LLC joint venture vehicle
Apparel · Workwear
Engelbert Strauss
Status: Approved
German technical workwear and safety footwear. Multi-pocket trousers, work jackets, safety boots. Headquartered in Biebergemuend, Hesse.
Engelbert Strauss GmbH & Co. KG / Strauss Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Express
Status: Avoid
Mall-based business casual apparel retailer for men and women. Was a fixture of American mall culture for four decades before its 2024 bankruptcy.
Phoenix Retail LLC (WHP Global + Simon Property Group + Brookfield Properties + Centennial)
Apparel · Pants & Bottoms
G-Star RAW
Status: Avoid
Dutch designer denim brand specializing in raw (unwashed, untreated) denim. Known for anatomically engineered jean construction and military-influenced design.
WHP Global (majority); Jos van Tilburg and existing shareholders retain minority stake
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Joseph Abboud
Status: Avoid
American menswear designer brand known for tailored suiting and modern classic aesthetic. Joseph Abboud was the only designer to win the CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year award in two consecutive years (1989 and 1990).
WHP Global (trademark); Tailored Brands operates US/Canada under exclusive license
Apparel · Pants & Bottoms
rag & bone
Status: Avoid
New York-based premium fashion brand fusing British tailoring, American workwear, and New York street style. Known for premium denim and casual essentials.
Guess?, Inc. (operating assets); 50/50 JV between Guess and WHP Global owns IP
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Anne Klein
Status: Avoid
American women's fashion brand founded in 1968. Known historically for popularizing mix-and-match casual workwear separates for professional women.
WHP Global
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Vera Wang
Status: Avoid
American luxury fashion brand and defining authority in bridal. Vera Wang opened her flagship salon at the Carlyle Hotel in 1990 and ran the brand self-financed for 35 years before the WHP sale.
WHP Global
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Isaac Mizrahi
Status: Avoid
American fashion designer brand. Most retail volume runs through QVC interactive shopping; the brand has generated $1 billion-plus in cumulative retail sales since founding.
WHP Global (70% controlling stake); Xcel Brands retains 30%
Apparel · Underwear
Warners
Status: Avoid
American intimate apparel brand with over a century of heritage. Bras, underwear, and intimate apparel for the mass market.
WHP Global
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Ben Sherman
Status: Avoid
British heritage menswear brand founded in Brighton in 1963. Defined the mod movement of the 1960s with Oxford button-down shirts; later adopted by skinhead, ska, mod-revival, Britpop, and grime subcultures across six decades.
Marquee Brands (Neuberger Berman Private Equity)
Apparel · Outerwear-Technical
Body Glove
Status: Avoid
American watersports apparel and accessories brand. Twin brothers Bill and Bob Meistrell are widely credited with inventing the first practical wetsuit out of the back of their Redondo Beach surf shop, Dive N' Surf, in 1953. Product range now includes wetsuits, swimsuits, footwear, life vests, sunglasses, paddle boards, phone cases, and snorkeling equipment.
Marquee Brands (75%); Meistrell family retains 25%
Apparel · Socks
Stance
Status: Avoid
San Clemente-based lifestyle and performance sock brand. Co-founders pioneered the idea of socks as a self-expression and lifestyle category, partnering with the NBA, MLB, Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Warner Bros. Discovery, Billie Eilish, Dwyane Wade, and the Estate of Basquiat.
Marquee Brands (Neuberger Berman Private Equity)
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
BCBGMAXAZRIA
Status: Avoid
American women's contemporary fashion brand founded by Tunisian-born designer Max Azria in 1989. Portfolio also includes BCBGeneration and (via Marquee's 2017 deal) Hervé Léger.
Marquee Brands (Neuberger Berman Private Equity)
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Laura Ashley
Status: Avoid
British heritage fashion and home brand founded by Welsh secretary Laura Mountney and her husband Bernard Ashley in a Pimlico, London flat in 1953. The first product was Victorian-style headscarves; one was worn by Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday. Now a fully licensed lifestyle brand spanning fashion, home, and 200+ lifestyle categories.
Marquee Brands (Neuberger Berman Private Equity)
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Anti Social Social Club
Status: Avoid
Los Angeles-based streetwear brand founded by Neek Lurk (born Andrew Buenaflor), formerly social media manager at Stussy. Brand built reputation on logo-adorned hoodies and tees, prolific collaborations (BAPE, Cactus Plant Flea Market, Hello Kitty, Hot Wheels, DHL, Playboy, Formula 1, FaZe Clan), and culturally infamous shipping delays.
Marquee Brands (Neuberger Berman Private Equity)
Apparel · Hats & Accessories
Totes
Status: Avoid
American weather-related accessories brand. Best known for the foldable, collapsible umbrella (introduced 1970), rubber rain boots, rain hats, and slipper socks. Once the largest umbrella seller in the United States.
Marquee Brands (IP); Randa Apparel & Accessories (operating partner)
Apparel · Hats & Accessories
Isotoner
Status: Avoid
American gloves and slippers brand. Inventor of the first stretchable nylon/elastane glove with leather coverings. Now spans gloves, slippers, and seasonal footwear.
Marquee Brands (IP); Randa Apparel & Accessories (operating partner)
Apparel · Socks
Smartwool
Status: Former Great
Merino wool socks and apparel.
VF Corporation
Apparel · Socks
Darn Tough
Status: Approved
American merino wool socks with unconditional lifetime warranty. Northfield, Vermont.
Apparel · Socks
Point6
Status: Approved
American merino wool socks. Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Founded by ex-Smartwool people.
Apparel · Base Layers & Wool
Icebreaker
Status: Watchlist
New Zealand merino wool base layers.
VF Corporation
Apparel · Workwear
Carhartt
Status: Approved
American workwear. Dearborn, Michigan.
Apparel · Flannel & Insulation
Pendleton
Status: Approved
American wool blankets, flannel shirts, blankets. Portland, Oregon.
Apparel · Workwear
Duluth Trading
Status: Watchlist
Direct-to-consumer workwear. Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.
Duluth Holdings Inc.
Apparel · Outerwear - Heritage
L.L.Bean
Status: Watchlist
American heritage outdoor retailer. Freeport, Maine.
Apparel · Outerwear - Heritage
Filson (apparel)
Status: Watchlist
Same as Filson bags; duplicate row because apparel quality trajectory differs.
Bedrock Manufacturing
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Taylor Stitch
Status: Approved
American workwear-inspired men's clothing. Certified B Corp.
Apparel · Pants & Bottoms
Outlier
Status: Approved
Technical menswear designed and produced in New York.
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Wool&Prince
Status: Approved
Merino wool dress shirts and basics.
Apparel · Base Layers & Wool
Ibex
Status: Watchlist
American merino wool apparel. Relaunched after 2018 closure.
Apparel · Workwear
Dickies
Status: Former Great
Classic American workwear, widely worn in trades.
VF Corporation
Apparel · Workwear
Round House
Status: Approved
American made workwear. Shawnee, Oklahoma.
Apparel · Outerwear - Heritage
Schott NYC
Status: Approved
American leather jackets and outerwear. Perfecto motorcycle jacket.
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Brooks Brothers
Status: Avoid
Historic American tailor. Dressed 40 US presidents including Lincoln.
Authentic Brands Group / SPARC Group (Catalyst Brands operator)
Apparel · Outerwear - Technical
Eddie Bauer
Status: Avoid
Historic American outdoor apparel brand. First Ascent technical line, Guide Pro pants, legendary down jackets.
Authentic Brands Group
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Champion
Status: Avoid
American athletic apparel. Reverse Weave hoodies, collegiate athletic wear.
Authentic Brands Group
Apparel · Pants & Bottoms
Dockers
Status: Avoid
American khaki and casual pants brand, originally a Levi Strauss sub-brand.
Authentic Brands Group
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Volcom
Status: Avoid
Surf and skate apparel brand. Originally a Costa Mesa, California boardsports label.
Authentic Brands Group (via Boardriders acquisition)
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Quiksilver
Status: Avoid
Australian-origin surf apparel brand.
Authentic Brands Group (via Boardriders)
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Billabong
Status: Avoid
Australian surf and boardshort brand.
Authentic Brands Group (via Boardriders)
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
RVCA
Status: Avoid
Surf and skate lifestyle apparel.
Authentic Brands Group (via Boardriders)
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Roxy
Status: Avoid
Women's surf and lifestyle apparel, originally a Quiksilver sub-brand.
Authentic Brands Group (via Boardriders)
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Element
Status: Avoid
Skateboard apparel and hardgoods.
Authentic Brands Group (via Boardriders)
Apparel · Outerwear - Heritage
Barbour
Status: Approved
British waxed cotton jackets. Five generations of family ownership. Wax jackets hand-made at the South Shields factory in England.
Apparel · Pants & Bottoms
Bonobos
Status: Avoid
Direct-to-consumer menswear, originally known for fit-focused pants.
WHP Global
Apparel · Pants & Bottoms
Joe's Jeans
Status: Avoid
Premium denim brand, once known as one of the best men's jeans on the market.
WHP Global
Apparel · Shirts & Tops
Forever 21
Status: Avoid
Fast fashion retailer.
Authentic Brands Group