Nautica Corporate Office

David Chu and his family immigrated from Taiwan in the early 1960s. Chu attended the New York Fashion Institute and began to design men’s coats that resembled old fashioned sailor suits. The coats were instant hits in the upscale New York men’s clothing stores. Chu named his company Nautica, which is an offshoot of the Latin word “Nauticus”, which means ship.

 Today, the company sells a variety of men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, watches, shoes, perfume, towels, linen, and more. Nautica has 170 stores around the world and the brand is sold in a variety of retail locations.

 Nautica is generally priced between mid-range brands and premium designer brands, making it a popular choice for those seeking quality but aren’t necessarily interested in big-name brands.

 In March 2018, Authentic Brands, Inc., acquired Nautica for an undisclosed sum.

In October 2019, the company decided to relaunch its Nautica Jeans brand, competing directly with Aeropostale.

 New Balance filed a lawsuit against Nautica stating that the company’s use of the capital letter “N” on their shoes and other items was a copyright infringement.  

Headquarters for Nautica remains in New York City, New York.