Fragrance house

Nautica

Nautica was founded in New York City in 1983 by designer David Chu, beginning with six outerwear pieces. Its founding concept joined nautical inspiration with functional American sportswear designed to move from the water into everyday life. Nautica became the official brand of the U.S. Sailing Team at the 1993 Olympic Games, while its public style evolved from classic preppy sportswear toward streetwear through competitive sport and the Nautica Competition sub-label, launched in 1996. Nautica Jeans Co. followed in 1999 as a casual sportswear extension focused on denim. VF Corporation acquired the brand in 2003 and completed its sale to Authentic Brands Group on April 30, 2018; Authentic Brands Group remains its owner. Since 2020, Nautica has publicly emphasized sustainability, social responsibility, and functional design through initiatives including Wavemakers and Sustainably Crafted. In 2023, it marked its 40th anniversary with archival-inspired capsule collections. In fragrance, Nautica is especially associated with Nautica Voyage, launched in 2006. On January 28, 2026, Interparfums announced an exclusive 20-year worldwide fragrance license with Nautica, with full global responsibility beginning January 1, 2030.