"JanSport is an American brand name of knapsacks, now had by VF Corporation, among the world's largest apparel companies. The company was founded in 1967 in Seattle, Washington by Murray Pletz, his wife Janice "" Jan"" Lewis (for whom the business is named), as well as his cousin Miss Yowell. JanSport innovated with a panel-loading daypack, unlike traditional top-loading packs. In 1975 it presented the initial convertible traveling pack along with its trademark daypack. [3] In 1986, VF purchased JanSport's then parent, Blue Bell.

The company's corporate headquarters is now based in Alameda, California, at VF Outdoor headquarters where it shares offices with divisional brother or sisters Napapijri and also The North Face. Its circulation center in Everett, Washington considering that 1971, shut March 2012. JanSport also has awarehouse in Appleton, Wisconsin which houses its collegiate clothing department. [4] JanSport is the world's largest knapsack manufacturer, as well as with each other, JanSport and The North Face sell nearly half of all small knapsacks marketed in the United States.

JanSport began by establishing the outside framework backpack, which made use of a steel structure with a fabric packsack affixed to it; the products made consist of technical day packs and interior frame backpacks. Up up until the very early 1990s, all JanSport packs were made in the USA."