Madewell traces its name to a defunct workwear manufacturer founded in 1937. J.Crew bought the rights to the name in 2004 and relaunched it in 2006 as, in the company's words, "a modern-day interpretation," originally aimed at a younger women's customer than J.Crew's main line. It now operates as a J.Crew Group sister brand with its own menswear range alongside womenswear, spanning denim, shirts, outerwear, and accessories.