Wrangler is owned by Kontoor Brands (the United States, NYSE: KTB), which was separated from VF Corporation on 23 May 2019.[1][2] Before Kontoor Brands, Wrangler was owned by VF Corporation from 1986 to 2019.[2]
Wrangler launched in 1947 with jeans designed with a rodeo rider for riding rather than for mining, with a flat rivet that would not scratch a saddle and a higher back rise. It has sponsored professional rodeo continuously since, and is one of the largest denim brands in the world.
VF Corporation spun off its jeanswear business as Kontoor Brands, distributing shares to VF shareholders. The separation let VF concentrate on outdoor and activewear brands growing faster than denim, and gave Wrangler and Lee a management team focused on that category alone.