Determining corporate ownership structures can be a complex endeavor, as large companies often have intricate webs of subsidiaries, brands, and partnerships. When looking specifically at the workwear and apparel companies Walls and Dickies, unraveling their relationship requires digging into each company’s history and current corporate status.
Background on Walls and Dickies
Walls was founded in 1922 in Nashville, Tennessee by Henry Wall as a manufacturer of work uniforms and outdoor apparel. The company grew steadily, expanding across the southern United States. In the 1950s, Walls was acquired by the Oklahoma-based Vanity Fair Corporation. It continued to operate as a subsidiary under the Vanity Fair umbrella for several decades.
Dickies, meanwhile, has its origins in the 1922 founding of Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co. by C.N. Williamson and E.E. “Colonel” Dickie. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, the company originally produced overalls and other work garments. Dickies grew rapidly and became known for its signature denim work pants. It was acquired by Omni Services in the 1990s, which later formed Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co., LLC as the parent company.
So while both companies have long standing histories in the workwear space, they started out and operated for much of their histories as independent entities based in different regions of the United States.
Shift to Common Ownership
The first overlaps in the ownership structures of Walls and Dickies emerged in the 1990s. In 1993, Walls was bought out from the Vanity Fair Corporation by the Northwest Company. Just two years later, the Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co. was acquired by the same Northwest Company.
This represented the first common ownership link between the two brands. However, they continued to operate independently despite sharing a parent company. Each maintained its own manufacturing facilities, distribution networks, and branding.
The next major shift came in 2002 when VF Corporation acquired both Walls and Dickies along with the rest of Northwest Company. VF Corporation is a publicly traded apparel and footwear company based in Denver, Colorado. It owns a diverse portfolio of brands including The North Face, Timberland, Vans, and Wrangler. Under VF Corporation, Walls and Dickies were now both part of a much larger conglomerate.
Yet even with a shared parent company in VF Corporation, Walls and Dickies continued functioning as distinct business entities with separate identities. This arrangement persisted for over 15 years until a substantial realignment occurred in 2017.
Dickies Acquires Walls Brand
In August 2017, VF Corporation announced that it had agreed to sell Walls Outdoor Goods to Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co., the parent company of Dickies. This meant that Dickies would take over the Walls brand, integrating it into the Dickies portfolio.
The Walls acquisition aligned with Dickies’ strategic goals for growth and expansion. By bringing Walls into its fold, Dickies could broaden its overall market share in workwear and increase its retail presence. The company saw potential synergies in marketing, manufacturing, and distribution by combining forces with Walls.
The acquisition deal was finalized in September 2017. Since then, Walls has been operated as a subsidiary of Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co. alongside the flagship Dickies brand. While Walls maintains its own distinct logo, branding, and history, its corporate ownership and oversight now falls under the Dickies umbrella.
Current Status of Ownership
To summarize the current relationship:
- Dickies and Walls operate as separate brands owned by the parent company Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co., LLC.
- Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co., LLC is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas.
- The Dickies brand was founded in 1922; Walls was founded the same year.
- Walls was acquired by Dickies/Williamson-Dickie in 2017.
- Both brands produce workwear, outdoor apparel, and other garments.
- Walls is positioned as Dickies’ second flagship brand after the Dickies name itself.
So in summary – yes, Walls is currently owned by the same parent company as Dickies. But the two brands remain distinct in their operations, visual identity, and heritage.
Impact on Branding and Operations
The Dickies ownership has not substantially altered Walls’ branding or product lineup. Consumers still see the familiar Walls logo and retro branding on its goods. However, behind the scenes changes have been made to manufacturing, supply chain logistics, and distribution to capture synergies between Walls and Dickies.
Some of the operational impacts include:
- Walls apparel is now manufactured in some of the same domestic and overseas factories as Dickies products.
- The materials procurement process has been consolidated and streamlined.
- Walls goods are distributed from Dickies warehouses and fulfillment centers in some cases.
- Marketing campaigns and social media for the brands are managed by an integrated team.
- Certain back office functions have been merged such as IT, HR, and finance.
These moves have allowed Walls to benefit from Dickies’ operational scale while still retaining its unique identity. For customers and consumers, the Walls shopping experience remains intact. The acquisition has been an overall positive by bolstering the support and resources available to the Walls brand.
Future Outlook
The ownership of Walls by Dickies appears stable for the foreseeable future. Walls gives parent company Williamson-Dickie access to market segments that its namesake Dickies brand does not capture. It diversifies the portfolio and provides continued growth opportunities.
Walls is likely to remain a strong second fiddle to the leading Dickies label. While Dickies generates over $1 billion in annual revenue, Walls brings in under $100 million. However, Walls still holds strong brand equity, particularly in its core southern US market. Under Dickies ownership, the company has the support needed to nurture this brand equity.
Some analysts believe there is possibility over time that Dickies may phase out the Walls brand and consolidate everything under its flagship. However, Dickies management has stated they see value in retaining Walls as a distinct identity. The two brands’ positioning caters to slightly different customer bases, giving parent company Williamson-Dickie broader reach.
For now, the arrangement of Dickies owning Walls while keeping operations largely separate appears to be working. It gives Dickies access to Walls’ distribution channels, manufacturing capabilities, and customer base. Meanwhile, Walls benefits from the stability and resources of its larger parent organization. This symbiotic relationship seems poised to continue as a win-win for both brands under the Williamson-Dickie umbrella.
Conclusion
To conclude:
- Walls and Dickies both have long histories as workwear companies, but operated independently for most of their existence.
- In 2017, Dickies acquired Walls via parent company Williamson-Dickie.
- Walls is now a subsidiary of Williamson-Dickie alongside the Dickies brand.
- The two brands remain distinct operationally despite common ownership.
- The acquisition has provided Walls with more resources and scale via Dickies.
- Walls will likely retain its own brand identity as a strategic part of the Williamson-Dickie portfolio.
So in short – yes, Walls is currently owned by Dickies, but operates as its own entity under the shared parent company. The relationship offers advantages to both brands and appears set to continue indefinitely.
| Brand | Founded | Origin | Acquired by Dickies/Williamson-Dickie | Current Ownership Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walls | 1922 | Nashville, TN | 2017 | Subsidiary of Williamson-Dickie |
| Dickies | 1922 | Fort Worth, TX | N/A – Parent Company | Parent company of Walls |