Lee began as the H.D. Lee Mercantile Company in 1889.
Henry David Lee established the company in Salina, Kansas. It originally dealt in groceries and other goods before moving into clothing manufacturing. The company’s development of work garments and denim products eventually made Lee one of the best-known American jeans brands.
Lee introduced several influential clothing products during the 20th century, including workwear and denim overalls. Its reputation grew through practical construction and broad distribution, and the brand later became important in international denim markets as well as the United States.
The 1889 date is the company’s founding year, not necessarily the year the first Lee jeans were sold. That distinction matters because Lee’s early business was a general merchandise operation. The recognizable denim label emerged through later changes in manufacturing, product design, and branding.