Lee Through the Years
Take a trip down Lee’s memory lane and witness over 100 years of jeans history.
Show moreThe BeginningHenry David Lee
Henry David Lee and four business partners established The H.D. Lee Mercantile Company in Kansas. They sourced groceries and other staples from around the world and packaged them for distribution to dry good and grocery stores under the Lee brand.
Show more
FIRST LEE GARMENTFACTORY OPENS
Recognizing the possibility of volume business in overalls, The H.D. Lee Mercantile Company opened its first garment factory in Salina, Kansas, to produce overalls and work jackets.
Show more
First one-piece CoverallLee Union-Alls
Lee created the first one-piece coverall: the iconic Union-Alls are designed to protect clothing both below and above the waist.
Show more
UNION-ALLSDRIVE EXPANSION
As a result of the Union-Alls popularity, The H.D. Lee Mercantile Company grew its manufacturing capabilities to keep up with demand.
Show more
NEW HEADQUARTERSKansas City
On March 17, 1917, The H.D. Lee Mercantile Company moved its headquarters from Salina, Kansas to Kansas City, Missouri.
Show more
BUDDY LEEADVERTISING ICON
The Buddy Lee doll was introduced to promote Lee overalls. Over the next 40 years, he helped to introduce new products offered by Lee.
Show more
COWBOY PANTSLEE 101
After consulting with working cowboys and champion rodeo riders, Lee introduced its cinch-back ‘Cowboy Waist Overalls' of 9 oz. denim for men (101) and boy’s (101B).
Show more
JELTBEST DENIM IN AMERICA
Working with Canton Mills of Canton, Georgia, Lee developed the strongest and bluest denim in the market for durable work and western wear.
Show more
NEW TECHNOLOGYZipper Fly
Lee was the first garment manufacturer to use a 'hookless fastener' in cowboy pants, overalls, coveralls and playsuits.
Show more
BUILT AMERICALEE WORKWEAR
BELIEVE IT OR NOT!LEE PROVES QUALITY & DURABILITY
Lee's Jelt denim survived Ripley's Believe It or Not! 26-mile crawl across untreated concrete.
Show more
BIG SUPPLYLEE JOINS THE WAR EFFORT
During World War II, Lee supported the war effort, manufacturing shirts, pants and flight suits for the United States military.
Show more
LEERIDERS IS BORN
FOR THE LADIESLEE JEANS FOR WOMEN
BIG TEXLEE GROWS ITS MARKETING
LeeJEANS FOR ALL
DRESS UPLEE WESTERNERS
GROOVYLEESURE'S FASHION SILHOUETTES
Fashion needs of high school and college students were met with national advertisements offering the new Leesure's trim, "skin tight" silhouettes.
Show more
SIGN OF THE TIMESBELL BOTTOM JEANS & PAINTER JACKETS
FIT FOR A KINGTHE LEISURE SUIT
OVER THE RAINBOW
THE BRAND THAT FITS
COVER OF ROLLING STONE
A Lee jean jacket made the cover of the Rolling Stone magazine adorning rock star Bruce Springsteen. It doesn't get much better than that.

RIDERS
Riders became a separate brand of “easy-going, honest clothes” designed specifically for the mass market, available at Wal-Mart and K-Mart.

MAKING A DIFFERENCELEE NATIONAL DENIM DAY
New FrontierLee.com launches buy online
LEE PIPES
Lee introduces Pipes—a fit and style revolution for 8-12-year-old boys enjoying the extreme sports lifestyle.
Show more
STRETCH FOR MENEXTREME MOTION JEANS
THEN IS NOWTHE LAUNCH OF LEE VINTAGE MODERN
Capitalizing on the heritage brand trend, Lee introduces a specialty denim collection inspired from our archives yet made with modern styling.
Show more
A NEW CHAPTERGREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA
After over 130 years in its founding state, Lee headquarters moved from Kansas to North Carolina.
Show more