This Top 10 ranking lists the top 10 sportswear brands in the world, excluding brands that primarily focus on sporting goods and sports equipment.
The global sportswear market has grown steadily over the past few decades and currently has a total revenue of over $100 billion. But which is the biggest of the apparel and sports brands? There are two sportswear brands that have been dominating the market for about three decades. While these two brands are still firmly in the lead, there are quite a few sports brands that have only recently emerged and are now among the top 10 sportswear brands in the world.
1. Nike
Global athletic apparel sales: $49.1 billion
Main sports product: shoes
Founded: 1964
Headquartered in: Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Owner: Nike Inc
Nike remains the world's largest sportswear brand. With revenues of nearly $50 billion, the Oregon-based U.S.-based company has been a leader in the global sportswear market. Shoes are still Nike's main product line, but they are far from the only product line at the moment.
2. Adidas
Global athletic apparel sales: $24.2 billion
Main sports product: shoes
Founded: 1949
The headquarters is located in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany
Owner: Adidas AG
The second giant in the global sportswear market is Adidas, which was founded by Adolf Dassler, hence the name. Like its main rival, Nike, the German company mainly produces shoes for various sports activities, but is currently also a more versatile sports brand, active in sports and many other areas of everyday life.
3. Puma
Global athletic apparel sales: $8.5 billion
Main sports product: shoes
Founded: 1948
The headquarters is located in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany
Owner: Puma SE
PUMA was founded by Rudolf Dassler, brother of Adolf Dassler, the founder of Adidas. The brothers originally founded and led their company. After a heated argument, they decided to go their separate ways and start their own companies. Puma's headquarters are located in the same Bavarian town as Adidas. Despite its smaller size than its sister companies, it still holds the third place in the global sportswear market.
4. Lululemon
Global athletic apparel sales: $8 billion
Main sports products: yoga and fitness clothing
Founded: 1998
Headquartered in: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
所有者： Lululemon Athletica, Inc.
Lululemon Athletica proves that you don't have to rely primarily on selling shoes to gain a foothold in the sportswear brand market. Founded in 1998, the Canadian company has become a global leader and manufacturer of yoga and fitness apparel. Given the growing popularity of yoga and fitness exercises, it's no surprise that Lululemon ranks among the top 10 sportswear brands.
5. Under Armour
Global athletic apparel sales: $5.8 billion
Main sports product: shoes
Founded: 1996
Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, USA
所有者： Under Armour, Inc.
Like most sports brands, Under Armour also offers shoes primarily (but not exclusively) to its customers. The American company is fairly new, having been founded in the mid-90s of the 20th century. But the Baltimore-based sportswear brand is ambitious and is rapidly emerging in the footwear and sportswear space.
6.Jordan
Global athletic apparel sales: $5 billion
Main sports products: basketball shoes
Founded: 1984
Headquartered in: Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Owner: Nike Inc
Official website
The Jordan brand is inspired by and named after NBA Hall of Famer and legendary Michael Jordan, and to this day, every Jordan shoe sold is shared by Michael Jordan. The Jordan brand first became known worldwide for its "Air Jordan" basketball shoe line, which launches a new line of basketball shoes every year. Nike originally planned to launch a single shoe line with Jordan in 1984, but it proved so popular that the company built an entire brand based on it.
7.New Balance
Global athletic apparel sales: $4.5 billion
Main sports product: shoes
Founded: 1906
Headquartered in: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Owner: New Balance Corporation
New Balance is another sportswear brand and company that focuses primarily on footwear. Originally founded in 1906 as a manufacturer of arch supports, Boston-based New Balance now sells its own shoes (and other athletic lifestyle apparel) and has established itself globally.
8. Reebok
Global athletic apparel sales: $3.7 billion
Main sports product: shoes
Founded: 1958
Headquartered in: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
拥有者： Authentic Brands Group LLC
The world's top 10 sportswear brands are being squeezed out by another footwear brand. Although Reebok has expanded its portfolio into sportswear, the footwear market remains a major target for the Boston-based company. Reebok has been owned by Authentic Brands Group, a brand management company, since 2022.
9. Colombia
Global sportswear sales: $3.4 billion
Main sports product: outerwear
Founded: 1938
Headquartered in: Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Owner: Colombian Sportswear Company
Columbia Sportswear is another company in the top 10 of global sportswear brands that primarily does not sell shoes. The American company specializes in outerwear, which includes special shoes such as hiking shoes, but also produces almost all garments in the general outdoor sportswear branch. The Oregon-based company was founded in 1938, so it's even older than Nike, which is headquartered in the same town.
10. Asics
Global athletic apparel sales: $3.3 billion
Main sports product: shoes
Founded: 1949
Headquartered in: Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Owner: ASICS Corporation
ASICS is another footwear company that has made it to the top 10 sportswear brands. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in the city of Kobe, this Japanese sportswear brand and company is known for its comfortable running shoes. In addition to shoes, ASICS also sells gymnastics and fitness clothing.
Top 10 sportswear brands in the world in 2023
(As of January 2023)
| 1. Nike Global sportswear sales: $49.1 billion |
| 2. Adidas Global sportswear sales: $24.2 billion |
| 3. PUMA Global sportswear sales: $8.5 billion |
| 4. Lululemon Athletica Global sportswear sales: $8 billion |
| 5. UNDER ARMOR Global sportswear sales: $5.8 billion |
| 6. JORDAN BRAND Global sportswear sales: $5 billion |
| 7. NEW BALANCE Global sportswear sales: $4.5 billion |
| 8. REEBOK Global sportswear sales: $3.7 billion |
| 9. Colombian sportswear global sportswear sales: $3.4 billion |
| 10 . ASICS Global sportswear sales: $3.3 billion |