Chris Kolbe, 41, has joined Lands’ End as executive vice president, chief merchandising and design officer. He will oversee all Lands’ End design, as well as retail, direct and international merchandising.
He succeeds Lisa Fitzgerald, who left the company.
Kolbe had been president and chief merchant officer of Lucky Brand Jeans, a division of Liz Claiborne Inc., from September through December 2009, where he was responsible for all divisions of merchandising, planning, allocation, retail, wholesale, design and production across all sales channels. Earlier, he was chief merchant at Mexx Europe. Before joining Claiborne, Kolbe was president and global brand manager at the Perry Ellis International-owned Original Penguin brand, and before that, worked for two years at Urban Outfitters, where he was men’s divisional merchandise manager.
Kolbe will report to Nick Coe, president of Lands’ End, based in Dodgeville, Wis.
In November, Lands’ End launched a contemporary Canvas line of men’s and women’s apparel and accessories, that incorporates a slimmer, more modern take on Lands’ End classics such as the white shirt, khakis, denim and knitwear. Canvas is available in 25 Lands’ End Canvas shops at Sears, as well as online. The company also updated its classic down outerwear with more modern fits and a broad range of colors for fall.