#Retail & Brands

2021-11-18

Kontoor Brands launches immersive shopping experience with virtual stores for Wrangler® and Lee®

As virtual and augmented reality experiences continue to transform today’s consumer experience, global lifestyle apparel company Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE:KTB) today announced the launch of its new virtual stores for two of the world’s most iconic brands, Wrangler® and Lee®.

Virtual stores offer 3D 360 digital experiences that showcase the brand’s most sought after products

The virtual stores invite consumers to navigate interactive three-dimensional retail space, browsing items in a store setting before seamlessly adding them to their shopping cart. The digital shopping experience creates a striking real-world experience without the stress that can accompany in-person shopping.

Drawing from an extensive portfolio of products available online and in stores, the virtual stores will feature the brands’ latest innovative design, top selling items, and current seasonal styles.

“Digital evolution is a critical component of our growth strategy as we enhance the overall omnichannel consumer experience,” explains Christopher Reid, VP & GM of Global Digital at Kontoor Brands. “Through these new virtual stores, we are offering consumers a more immersive experience with our products and the opportunity to engage with our brands in a curated store experience that brings to life the unique characteristics of each of our brands.

The Wrangler and Lee virtual shopping experiences are an example of the investment Kontoor Brands is making in its ongoing digital evolution, leveraging a consumer-centric approach to engage existing customers and acquire new and younger audiences. In addition to offering a fresh way to experience the best of both digital and in-person shopping, these virtual stores provide an enhanced consumer experience while delivering on Kontoor’s commitment of continued digital acceleration.

To explore the virtual Wrangler® and Lee® stores and shop 24/7, visit http://wrangler.com and http://lee.com.

“Production is a product”

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“We need to move away from the price trap and return to a value-driven mindset.”

With its new Textile Innovation Center, KARL MAYER is sending a strong signal for innovation, collaboration, and the future of textile applications. In this interview, Karl Josef Mayer discusses new opportunities in warp knitting, the processing of staple fibres, recycling, the changing role of machinery manufacturers, and why the textile industry must once again focus more strongly on the value of textiles. by Oliver Schmidt

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Geopolitical uncertainty, growing competitive pressure from China, new free trade agreements and the shift towards a circular economy are currently reshaping the global textile industry. In this interview, Cornelia Buchwalder discusses the current mood within the Swiss textile machinery sector, the industry’s distinctive innovative strength, new market opportunities in India and Asia, and the technological trends that could shape the upcoming trade fair cycle leading up to ITMA 2027.

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GORE-TEX® KIDSWEAR launches innovative membership scheme for kids’ jackets

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GenuTrace client advisory: Is your cotton supply chain UFLPA ready?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has released updated operational guidance (CBP Publication No. 5560-0526) expanding its forced labor enforcement framework. The guidance supersedes the original 2022 UFLPA Operational Guidance and now covers all forced labor enforcement authorities — UFLPA, CAATSA, and WROs/Findings — in a single unified document. For cotton importers, the enforcement posture has not softened. It has become more structured, more documented, and more demanding. Learn more about UFLPA.

STOLL: Agreement signed for the divestiture of selected assets

In early 2025, KARL MAYER announced its strategic decision to focus on its core business areas of WARP KNITTING, WARP PREPARATION, and TECHNICAL TEXTILES. As part of this move, the flat knitting machine business under the STOLL brand was discontinued and the production site in Reutlingen was closed in October 2025.

TERNAfil wins first place at PitchMiUp Night 2026 in Minden

The RWTH spin-off TERNAfil has developed MAXCarbon, a new high-performance hybrid fibre that combines the mechanical performance of carbon with the temperature and corrosion resistance of ceramic materials. For this development, TERNAfil was awarded first prize at the PitchMiUp Night in Minden on 21 May 2026.