Nautica (clothing company)

Nautica is an American apparel brand of Authentic Brands Group featuring primarily men's, women's, children's apparel and accessories, as well as home, watches, and fragrance. Nautica was founded in 1983 by clothing designer David Chu and a partner. It was purchased for cash and stock in 1984 by State-O-Maine, a New York-based apparel company. State-O-Maine changed its name to Nautica in 1994. VF Corporation purchased Nautica in 2003.
Nautica took its name from the Latin word "nauticus" - which comes from the Greek word "ναυτικός" - for naval and in Italian language "nautica" means seamanship.
In March 2018, Authentic Brands Group announced that they would acquire Nautica from VF Corporation. The sale was completed on April 30, 2018. Since being acquired by ABG, the brand has been repositioned downmarket as an upper mid-range brand, being priced slightly above PVH's Izod and Ralph Lauren Corporation's Chaps brands, but below PVH's Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren Corporation's Polo Ralph Lauren brands.
In 2020, ABG acquired the Brooks Brothers brand, another brand specializing in the preppy fashion category. In the ABG portfolio, Brooks Brothers will continue to be marketed as an upscale traditional preppy brand, while Nautica will be marketed as a more affordable, modern preppy-styled brand.