EXHIBIT 99(A)

  CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
      AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

         Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted by Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Nautica Enterprises, Inc.
(the "Company") hereby certifies that:

         (i) the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for
the quarterly period ended August 31, 2002 (the "Report") fully complies with
the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934; and

         (ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.


                                      By: s/ Harvey Sanders
                                          -------------------------------------
                                            Harvey Sanders
                                            Chief Executive Officer


Date:  October 11, 2002
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