JanSport is an American brand of backpacks owned by VF Corporation, one of the world's largest apparel companies. The company was founded in 1967 in Seattle, Washington by Murray Pletz, who named the company after his wife. Skip Yowell allegedly took over JanSport. In 1986, VF purchased JanSport's then parent, Blue Bell.
The company's corporate headquarters is now based in San Leandro, California, at VF Outdoors headquarters where it shares offices with divisional siblings Napapijri and The North Face. Its distribution facility is located in Everett, Washington where it has been since 1971. JanSport also has a warehouse in Appleton, Wisconsin which houses its collegiate apparel division. JanSport is the world's largest backpack maker, and together, JanSport and The North Face sell nearly half of all small backpacks sold in the United States.
JanSport started by developing and mastering the external frame backpack, which used a metal frame with a cloth packsack attached to it; the products made include technical day packs and internal frame backpacks. Up until the early 1990s, all JanSport packs were made in the United States. JanSport is one of the few remaining manufacturers of external frame backpacks.
Unlike some other manufacturers, JanSport offers a lifetime warranty on its products. It has marketed innovations in backpack design. The JanSport brand is especially popular among students.
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Jansport headquarters in San Leandro
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Early 1990s Jansport D-3