VF Corp is looking to expand further into China by partnering with Alibaba 's Tmall Innovation Center (TMIC). Having previously used TMIC to develop products for VF brands like Dickies and Kipling, VF Corp is broadening its collaboration with the Chinese e-commerce giant's research and development arm. VF Corp will get access to data on the buying habits of Alibaba’s 654 million customers and use this data to develop products for one of its fastest-growing international markets. In exchange, the Chinese e-commerce platform will be able to exclusively sell the products on its site for a limited time and gain further insights into seller marketing strategies.

Begun originally as an online platform for local businesses, Taobao Mall was subsequently rebranded as Tmall and has become an important tool in getting foreign brands to market in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Tmall is now China's largest B2C e-commerce platform and TMIC has assisted numerous multinational companies in designing products for China.

VF Corp owns a collection of brands that includes The North Face, Timberland, and Vans. VF is now a $11 billion business after spinning off Wrangler and Lee jeans into the independently operated and traded Kontoor Brands. The Vans line of footwear is especially seen as a big opportunity as it has emerged as the second most popular brand for teens behind Nike.