Lee Cooper was founded in 1908.
The company began in London as the E. & P. Clothing Company, established by Morris Cooper and Louis Maister. Its early business focused on workwear and uniforms rather than fashion jeans. The company adopted the Lee Cooper name in 1946, after expanding its production and changing its corporate identity.
Lee Cooper became associated with denim as jeans grew from practical work clothing into everyday casual wear after the Second World War. It is often described as one of Europe’s earliest major jeans brands. The brand’s history is sometimes confused with that of the American Lee brand, but they are separate companies with different origins.
The year 1908 refers to Lee Cooper’s founding, not the later adoption of its current name or its entry into the jeans market. That distinction helps explain why historical sources mention both the E. & P. Clothing Company and Lee Cooper.