When it comes to winter weather gear, not all apparel is created equal. And although there are tons of name-brands out there that produce good quality gear, there are two that truly stand above the rest: Lands’ End and L.L.Bean, both of which have been around for decades upon decades. While the two companies seem pretty interchangeable, there are actually a lot of differences between the two brands, which we’ll dive into below. From each brand’s history to the differences in clothing and gear they carry, here’s everything you need to know about Lands’ End and L.L.Bean. 

What Is Lands’ End?

retaildive.com

Lands’ End is a clothing brand that was started by Gary Comer in Chicago in 1963. The brand originally sold sailboat equipment for racing sailors and got its name through spelling mistake. After a misprint in the company’s first catalog accidentally placed the apostrophe after the “s” in “Lands” instead of in the appropriate place (the company’s name was originally Land’s End), Comer didn’t have enough money to fix the grammar mistake and reprint the catalogs, which is how the company got its unique trademark name. 

In 1977, the company shifted from focusing on selling sailing supplies to selling apparel, and now carries men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, ranging from outerwear, sweaters, and long underwear to casual tees, sport coats, and blazers, and even suits. Lands’ End also has a huge home selection which includes bedding, home decor, Christmas decor, kitchen and dining, kids bedroom decor, and more. 

What Is L.L.Bean?

townandcountrymag.com

L.L.Bean has been a trusted clothing brand ever since Leon Leonwood Bean himself created the Maine Hunting Shoe in 1911, which came into existence after Bean returned from a hunting trip with cold, damp feet and had an “a ha!” moment, inspiring him to design a boot with a leather upper and rubber bottoms. This revolutionized the cold weather shoe game, and his business took off from there.