Nautica is a mid-range to high-end American apparel brand of the VF Corporation featuring primarily men's, women's, children's apparel and accessories, as well as home, watches, and fragrance. Nautica was founded in 1983 by clothing designer David Chu and a partner. It was purchased for cash and stock in 1984 by State-O-Maine, a New York-based apparel company. State-O-Maine changed its name to Nautica in 1994. VF Corporation purchased Nautica in 2003.

Nautica took its name from the Latin word nauticus - which comes from the Greek word ναυτικός - for naval and in Italian language nautica means seamanship.