VF Corp. told employees this week that it is closing down the luggage and backpack brand Eagle Creek.
When we followed up with VF, a spokesman sent the following statement:
“We announced internally that after much evaluation and consideration, VF has decided to wind down the operations of the Eagle Creek brand. VF has determined that it no longer makes strategic or financial sense for us to continue operating the brand. Most of the actions to wind down the business will be completed by late fall. Throughout the process, we’ll focus on keeping our associates and customers informed of the changes and milestones as they happen.”
VF owns several brands in the category, including JanSport and Eastpak.
The luggage and backpack industry took a big hit during COVID-19 as travel stopped and the back-to-school season virtually disappeared.
The company is continually evaluating its portfolio. Over the years, it has sold brands, including Reef and its occupational workwear business. And it has made acquisitions, such as Dickies and Supreme.
Eagle Creek used to be headquartered in Carlsbad, but moved to Denver in 2019 along with many other VF brands. At the time, about 52% of Eagle Creek employees opted to move to Denver, according to our previous interview with Eagle Creek President Roger Spatz.
