LEE THE CHRONICLE
The most important moments in company history
 1889
LEE
 Henry David Lee founded the H.D. Lee Mercantile Company in Kansas - a company that specializes in the trade in high-quality textile products.
Lee quickly recognizes the need for reliable work wear. Dissatisfied with the quality and the irregular supply of work clothing by Eastern manufacturers, Lee believes that his company can do better. This business idea from Lee is the beginning of a company that in the course of the 20th century should develop into the most successful apparel manufacturer.
 1911
THE LEE BIB OVERALL
After H.D. Lee has recognized the need for reliable work wear, he begins to produce high quality suits in 1911. The first model ever is the Bib Overall, originally made of 8 oz. heavy denim and equipped with a multi-functional breast pocket and a button bar.
Lee also produces jackets and overalls but can only prevail in the industry in 1913 with the overall "Union All".
1913
THE LEE UNION ALL
Said to be inspired by his chauffeur, when he repaired his car, H.D. Lee gets the idea to design a suit, that supports both: from the waist down and protects the upper body.
A jacket and trousers are sewn together and thus form a long-armed suit. Since the overall is suitable as a one-piece work clothing for car mechanics, railroad workers, farmers and other occupational groups, the Union gained immediately popularity All across the country. With the jumpsuit H.D. Lee was only responding to his chauffeur who was complaining that his uniform was dirty every time when he repaired the car of his boss. The Union-All work clothing makes Lee a household name, paving the way for the opening of production facilities in Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, New Jersey, Minnesota and a sales office in California in the next four years.
In 1916, the Union-Alls became a sign for the membership of the LEE-employees in the garment industry union "United Garment Workers of America".
 1917
LEE ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS
The first national advertisement of the company in the Saturday Evening Post presents the company as the world's largest workwear manufacturer with an unionized workforce.
 1920
BUDDY LEE
The H.D. Lee Company creates the Buddy Lee between 1920 and 1921 as an advertising icon that appears for the first time in the Lee-Price List in 1922. The first Buddy Lee is wearing a Lee-suit and is presented in the shop window of the Dayton Company Department Store on Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Buddy Lee is one of the first companies character in America. At that time, this type of marketing strategy was not very common. Over the years, Buddy Lee has been extremely successful and has become a coveted collector's item.
 1921
THE LOCO JACKET
1921 Lee takes the "Loco Jacket" in its collection as one of the first jackets. It was specially designed for railway workers and produced from 8 oz. heavy denim. This jacket has three-button cuffs, wide, angled patch pockets and a casual arm design.
After the invention of the zipper Lee introduces the first denim jacket with zipper and a 4-in-1 breast pocket under the name "91". The production with this proven and authentic design remains unchanged until the 1980s.
1924
THE LEE COWBOY PANTS
The predecessor of the Lee Riders is introduced in 1924. It is a work pants made from 13 oz. heavy denim fabric, which is designed specifically for sailors and loggers.
In addition, the Lee Cowboy Pants ("101") are designed, adapted to the specific needs of cowboys and rodeo riders.
The idea of focusing on the specific requirements of the Cowboys proved to be extremely important, as this market is becoming a key catalyst for jeans all over the world.
1925
BOSS OF THE ROAD
1925 developes Lee the revolutionary "Jelte Denim". This 11.5oz. denim jeans is produced using a process in which the yarn is twisted harder then before. Thus, these jeans offer longer durability and greater tensile strength. The constant success of these products in the workwear inspired Lee for the first advertising slogan: "The Jeans That Built America".
The original work pants are designed to meet the requirements of the railway workers' pioneers. The "Boss of the Road" pants made of denim Jelte.
LEE WHIZIT
For the combination of Jelte denim and the newly developed "Hookless Fastener" - the so-called "hook-less lock", which was later known by the name zipper - Lee starts a competition for naming its newest Overall: the winner is "Lee Whizit", where the name refers to the sound the zipper makes by closing and opening.
1926
101-Z
Lee brings the "101-Z" on the market - the world's first jeans with zipper. From 1926 zippers were also used in the cowboy pants, which is now available in two versions: the 101-B (with buttons) and the 101-Z (zip). Furthermore, these models are now available in special fits for optimized standing and sitting proportions and with interior seam dimensions.
The adjusted U-shaped trousers to increase the wearing comfort is another invention in this year, which is used in both models.
1929
91-B ZIP JACKET
A short Jelte denim jacket with zipper is introduced to suite the Lee Bib Overall.
1931
101-J SLIM JACKET
1931 Lee introduces the Slim Jacket. It is the first smaller, western-style cut jacket on the market, known under the name "101-J" (for jacket). The Slim Jacket has slanted chest pockets that makes it easier for cowboys to reach his pocket on the other side with the hand while riding. The jacket also has a wide waistband that provides better fit and prevents the jacket from lifting up.
1933
STORM RIDER JACKET
Lee takes the "Storm Rider Jacket" in his collection. This was later among the most famous flagship of his collection. It is a winter version of the Slim Jacket, with a warm cotton lining and Cordkragen.
1936
THE HAIR-ON-HIDE-LABEL
Lee introduces the "Hair-on-Hide" label, the first leather label of the company. The logo is burned directly onto the cowhide, and represents the typical cowboy lifestyle.
1944
THE LAZY S
Lee uses the "Lazy S" seam. The idea is that the two back pockets seen side by side symbolize the horns of the famous Texas Longhorn. This symbol replaces the double-arch ("Arcuate"), which had been used for the cowboy pants since 1926.
Furthermore, this year the total cowboy clothing collection is combined under the label "Lee Riders".
1946
LEE TWITCH LABEL
Lee changes from the "Hair-on-Hide" label to the twitch label. "Twitch" here refers to the flinching of the bull when he gets the red-hot iron for his branding.
1949
LADY LEE RIDERS
Due to the increasing demand for women's jeans in 1949, the Lady Lee Riders are introduced. In no time it is the jeans knoen for the best fit in the industry.
1954
FROM WORK CLOTHING INTO POP CULTUREVON DER ARBEITSBEKLEIDUNG ZUR POPKULTUR
James Dean in "East of Eden" and Marlon Brando in "The Wild"- both are wearing jeans. This is the birth of the motorcycle cult and the beginning of the transition of jeans from work clothes into pop culture.
Besides the leadership in the segments of work and western clothing Lee now also gets into the sector of leisure wear with the "Leesures": comfortable clothes for work and leisure.
1964
STRENGTHENED JEANS
1964 Lee introduces stretch pants and "Lee-Prest" - trousers with permanent Bügefalte. As the first "wash and wear" jeans they immediately became coveted products. Both belong to the "Leesures"collection.
1970
Lee transfers completely from work wear to casual wear and hereby starts its victory in fashion circles. Lee now exported to 82 countries outside the U.S.
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