Sports brands, or more specifically sportswear brands, have been flourishing for a while. Around the world, an increasing number of individuals are following the trend toward including more fitness and sports in their daily lives. An expected development given that leading an active lifestyle has been shown to improve both health and life expectancy. Even so, there is still a lot of room for these sports companies to expand because far too many individuals do not exercise to the suggested levels. You must have the proper equipment to exercise, which should assist you during your presumably routine dose of physical activity and make you as comfortable as possible.
When you consider all of these data, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the worldwide sportswear business has consistently expanded over the past several decades and is now responsible for more than $100 billion in combined revenues. But which sportswear companies are the biggest? Particularly for sportswear, there are two companies who have dominated the industry for about three decades. And while these two companies remain comfortably in the top spot, quite a few more sports brands that have only recently arisen are now included in the global Top 10.
See our most recent Top 10 ranking of the 10 largest athletic brands in the world based on sales generated globally. Did you lately contribute to these sales figures as well?
The 10 Biggest Sportswear Brands in the World 2022:
1. Nike
Worldwide sportswear sales: $44.5 billion
Main sports product: Shoes
Founded in: 1964
Based in: Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Owned by: Nike, Inc.
The world’s largest sportswear company is still Nike. With sales reaching close to $45 billion, the American firm with its headquarters in Oregon has held the top spot in the worldwide sportswear industry for quite some time. Nike’s primary product line is still shoes, although they are by no means the only ones.
2. Adidas
Worldwide sportswear sales: $23.5 billion
Main sports product: Shoes
Founded in: 1949
Based in: Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany
Owned by: Adidas AG
Adidas is the second-largest player in the world’s sportswear sector. Adolf Dassler created this business (hence the name). The German company, like its arch rival Nike, primarily manufactures shoes for all types of sporting activities, but it is also currently a more broad sports brand and active in many other spheres of the sports and everyday lifestyle industries.
3. Puma
Worldwide sportswear sales: $6.2 billion
Main sports product: Shoes
Founded in: 1948
Based in: Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, Germany
Owned by: Puma SE
Adolf Dassler, who founded Adidas, and his brother Rudolf founded Puma. Initially, the company was formed and run by the brothers. They eventually decided to break ways and start their own independent businesses after having a heated dispute. Adidas and Puma are both based in the same little Bavarian town. Even though it is far smaller than its sibling company, they are still a powerful third in the world’s sportswear market.
4. Under Armour
Worldwide sportswear sales: $4.5 billion
Main sports product: Shoes
Founded in: 1996
Based in: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Owned by: Under Armour, Inc.
Like the top three athletic clothing companies, Under Armour focuses primarily—though not exclusively—on shoes. The American business is quite new, having only been established in the middle of the 1990s. However, the Baltimore-based sportswear company has had a lot of ambition and is quickly becoming a major player in the footwear and sporting goods industries.
5. New Balance
Worldwide sportswear sales: $4.1 billion
Main sports product: Shoes
Founded in: 1906
Based in: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Owned by: New Balance, Inc.
Another business that mostly focuses on footwear rounds out the Top 5 on the market for sports brands. Originally established in 1906 to produce arch supports, New Balance currently sells its own line of footwear (alongside other sports lifestyle clothing).
6. Lululemon Athletica
Worldwide sportswear sales: $3.3 billion
Main sports product: Yoga apparel
Founded in: 1998
Based in: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Owned by: Lululemon Athletica, Inc.
Lululemon Athletica is evidence that you don’t necessarily need to sell shoes to succeed on the market for athletic brands. The Canadian business, which was started in 1998, is today recognized as the top producer of yoga apparel. Given the widespread acceptance of yoga around the world, it is not surprising that Lululemon is listed among the top 10 sportswear companies.
7. Asics
Worldwide sportswear sales: $3.2 billion
Main sports product: Shoes
Founded in: 1949
Based in: Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Owned by: Asics Corporation
Another shoe manufacturer in the Top 10 sportswear companies is Asics. The Kobe, Japan-based business was established in 1949 and is best known for their running shoes. Asics offers gear for gymnastics and fitness in addition to shoes.
8. Columbia Sportswear
Worldwide sportswear sales: $2.5 billion
Main sports product: Outerwear
Founded in: 1938
Based in: Beaverton, Oregon, USA
Owned by: Columbia Sportswear Company
Another business in the Top 10 global sportswear brand ranking that doesn’t primarily sell shoes is Columbia Sportswear. The American corporation specializes in outerwear, which includes specialized footwear (such as hiking boots), but also pretty much every piece of apparel under the general category of outdoor sportswear. The Oregon-based business was founded in 1938, making it significantly older than Nike, another local business.
9. Fila
Worldwide sportswear sales: $2.6 billion
Main sports product: Shoes
Founded in: 1911
Based in: Seoul, South Korea
Owned by: Fila Korea Ltd.
The Fila brand, which was initially established in Italy in 1911, is currently headquartered in South Korea. In addition to making athletic footwear, Fila is a well-known lifestyle brand.
10. Reebok
Worldwide sportswear sales: $1.8 billion
Main sports product: Shoes
Founded in: 1958
Based in: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Owned by: Adidas AG
Another shoe company completes the Top 10 largest sportswear companies in the world. Although Reebok has expanded its product line to include athletic wear, the Boston-based firm continues to focus primarily on the shoe market. Adidas has owned Reebok since 2005.