20-05-2025
US Authentic Brands Group to acquire iconic American brand Dockers
Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), a global brand development and licensing platform, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the intellectual property of Dockers from Levi Strauss & Co. The addition of Dockers, an American brand renowned for bringing casualwear into the mainstream, aligns with Authentic's strategy to grow its portfolio through brands with strong heritage, loyal consumers and global recognition.
Dockers has been a staple in American wardrobes since 1986, known for making khakis and chinos synonymous with everyday style. From iconic campaigns to memorable moments in pop culture, the brand defined an era of casual style and continues to resonate with consumers around the world.
Authentic Brands Group is acquiring Dockers' intellectual property from Levi Strauss & Co. and has named Centric Brands as its operating partner for key categories in the US and Canada. Known for its legacy in casualwear, Dockers will be expanded globally through Authentic's licensing network, with plans to scale in LATAM, EMEA, and SE Asia and reimagine the brand for a new generation.
'Dockers is a natural fit for the Authentic model,' said Jamie Salter, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Authentic . 'It's a brand with deep roots, high awareness and a solid foundation in licensing – all things we look for when acquiring new brands. Dockers played a key role in shaping casual workwear as we know it today and we see significant potential to build on that legacy and grow the brand across a variety of categories.'
Coinciding with the transaction, Authentic has signed a licensing agreement with its long-standing partner Centric Brands, which will serve as the operating partner for Dockers across key categories in the US and Canada. Centric will take on sportswear, activewear, kids' apparel, dress shirts, workwear and performance golf, reinforcing Dockers' positioning across both lifestyle and functional segments.
Jason Rabin, CEO of Centric Brands , said, "Dockers represents everything we look for in a brand partnership – iconic heritage, consumer loyalty, and growth potential. We're bringing the same strategic expertise to Dockers that we've applied to our successful brand portfolio that includes design, strategic sourcing and an extensive wholesale network. We look forward to the growth of the Dockers brand.'
In line with its proven playbook, Authentic plans to unlock new opportunities for Dockers through its global network of more than 1,700 licensing partners, with a focus on innovation, omnichannel expansion and international growth. The company is in active discussions with regional operators in LATAM, EMEA and SE Asia to transition and scale Dockers' existing businesses across those markets.
'Few brands own a category the way Dockers does, yet still have so much room to grow,' said Matt Maddox, President at Authentic . 'Its legacy in casualwear gives it a strong foundation, but the real opportunity lies in reimagining the brand for a new generation. Through our global platform and deep licensing network, we're committed to stewarding the brand into its next era of growth and relevance.' Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
