The 26 Best Sportswear Brands in the World
When thinking about the best sports brands, an old expression comes to mind: form is temporary, but class is permanent. Popularity ebbs and flows, but quality and legacy endure.
Availability, not exclusivity, is key to sportswear brands financially. Limited releases and exclusive collabs might wind up in plenty of social media feeds and add a new level of cool to a sports brand, but those sneakers usually don't end up in everyone's closets. Yet, while widespread availability and visibility do equal cold, hard cash for sportswear brands, exclusivity and collaborations remain a form of soft power every label wants to wield.
The hype that drives the high end of the market and sends collectors and media outlets such as ourselves into a frenzy is a means for sports brands to elevate their general releases and everyday wear and keep profits ticking upwards. And it's working.
But hype isn't the be-all and end-all. Heritage, product quality, strong endorsement deals, and innovation are other spokes in the wheel of what makes sportswear brands great. Its something those in charge know all too well, and a big reason as to why a lot of brands have transitioned from sports to the lifestyle arena with ease in recent times.
With athleisure arguably the dominant fashion trend of our time, there’s money on the table, and these 26 sports brands aren’t about to leave any change behind.
Scroll on to see, in no particular order, the best sports apparel brands in the world.
HOKA
HOKA is a French sportswear brand founded in 2009 by two former Salomon employees that specializes in maximalist running shoes. Due to its relatively short history, it may not have the same heritage as other brands on this list but has found a firm foothold in the running industry thanks to the engineering embedded in its products. Sure, you can make an argument that the brand blew up largely because of that chunky sneaker craze some years ago, but the specs don’t lie. HOKA specializes in making trail-ready sneakers, which grew to acclaim thanks to the use of an early-stage meta-rocker that creates a smooth transition while walking or running.
Though running shoes by trade, HOKA silhouettes like the Speed Loafer became some of the most talked-about sneakers in recent memory, symptomatic of the brand’s growing presence in lifestyle retail and high-profile collaborations.
Salomon
With gorpcore going strong, Salomon was perfectly positioned to become one of the biggest European sportswear brands. Its trail-ready sneakers have become a hit due to the combination of Ortholite insoles and Contagrip outsoles, which create a comfortable ride regardless of the terrain. Compared to other brands, one of Salomon’s best qualities is its signature color-blocking used on sneakers in the XT series.
Apart from celebrating more than seven decades as a brand, collaborations with everyone from COMME des GARÇONS to Margiela's MM6 ensured the French label remains a major player in the sportsgear and fashion industry.
ROA
Founded in 2015, ROA is the brainchild of Maurizio Quaglia in collaboration with the team at Slam Jam, so the DNA behind this label put it on a path for style success from the off. Best known for its range of hiking boots that blur the line between technical sneakers and performance hikers, recent seasons have seen ROA expand more purposefully into apparel.
Counting partnerships with names like Stüssy and Our Legacy, ROA is firmly positioned in the world of fashion. But that doesn't come at a sacrifice of technical prowess. High-end down jackets, specialist fleeces, and luxury knitwear all fall under the brand's remit, proving that sports and lifestyle have never been more connected.
New Balance
Arguably no other brand has had a revival in recent years like New Balance. Apart from teaming up with Teddy Santis of Aimé Leon Dore for the brand's "MADE in USA" sub-line, New Balance has been releasing hit after hit with coveted silhouettes like the 2002R, 550, and other general releases.
Though the target 'dad audience' still remains with the Boston-based brand, new colorways and revitalized models have placed it at the forefront of the apparel and sneaker industry, thanks to collaborations with everyone from Auralee to Stone Island. And don't even get us started on the seismic Snoafer.
On
A relative newcomer to the scene, On was founded in 2010 and has managed to make a lot of noise in a short period of time. That has been mainly due to its signature CloudTec® technology, which creates the distinctive holes in the sole units of its sneakers. The cushioning technology makes for a comfortable ride, while the shoe's lightweight construction and energy-returning technologies have made them a favorite for runners.
As well as offering reliable and quick running shoes, the label has also been making a name for itself among casual sneaker wearers, partly thanks to team-ups with the brands like LOEWE, or famous ambassadors like FKA twigs and Zendaya.
Satisfy
Satisfy is a Paris-based performance running brand founded in 2015 by Brice Partouche that merges high-fashion sensibility with serious athletic function. It’s known for obsessive material innovation, alluring graphics, and a rebellious attitude that challenges traditional running aesthetics.
The brand blurs the line between sport and luxury, positioning running as both a physical and mental practice rather than just competition. With premium pricing and cult appeal, Satisfy has become a go-to label for runners and style-conscious creatives who value experimentation as much as performance.
Oakley
Oakley sunglasses have cemented themselves as a high-fashion statement rather than a niche sports accessory. As eyewear trends continue to favor slimmer profiles, bold colors, and exaggerated lens shapes, Oakley’s decades-deep archive of performance-driven designs has proven perfectly timed for renewed relevance.
In recent years, the brand has continued to sharpen its cultural edge through link-ups with, say, Miu Miu, among plenty others. It's drops like these that reinforce Oakley’s position at the intersection of fashion, sport, and innovation, making it one of the most influential and desirable eyewear brands in the world today.
adidas
A sportswear giant long before athleisure was even a word, adidas has remained an intrinsic of the sportswear industry. Most recently, the Samba basically defined years' worth of footwear trends, blueprinting what is still that same, simple, slender silhouette du jour.
It's clear the second-biggest athletic company in the world shows no signs of slowing down, and its dabblings in every thinkable pocket, from high fashion (think Y-3 and Wales Bonner) to outdoorsy extremes (à la TERREX), is a testament to the brand's ability to accommodate new ideas that further merge innovation and vision.
ASICS
Few companies blend performance and design quite like ASICS. Although mostly known for its impact in the running world with cutting‑edge silhouettes like the Novablast and Meta Speed Sky, its lifestyle models are also widely renowned for comfort. Pretty much any model from the brand’s GEL series offers stability and cushioning in a way that other brands don’t.
With creative momentum continuing beyond the running community, ASICS has strengthened its lifestyle and fashion presence through notable collaborations. Recent partnerships include drops with relative newbie Cecilie Bahnsen and industry icon Issey Miyake.
Reebok
Riding the wave of ’90s nostalgia, Reebok has been mining its archives and giving them a contemporary spin through a mix of celebrity and IYKYK designer collaborations, from Angel Reese to Hed Mayner.
Retro staples like Allen Iverson’s Question and Answer series continue to captivate a new generation of sneakerheads, while the brand experiments with unexpected silhouettes like the Beatnik, a slipper built for cold-weather comfort. Meanwhile, classics such as the Club C remain effortless wardrobe staples, and trail-ready sneakers and marathon-ready runners prove that Reebok’s heritage is just as much about performance as it is about style.
Puma
Puma has mastered the art of blending heritage and hype. Known for delivering quality gear at accessible prices, the German sportswear giant has moved beyond its football roots through collaborations with Pokémon, MCM, Butter Goods, and more recently Off-White and Brain Dead. From Neymar Jr. to the next generation of rising athletes, Puma continues to dominate both performance arenas and cultural spaces.
When looking at something like its juggernaut Speedcat model's revival, Puma's ability to remain true to its athletic origins becomes apparent as the reason for why it continues to be one of the top sportswear brands in the world.
Converse
Converse is one of the OG American sportswear brands, best known for the Chuck Taylor silhouette. By adding vulcanized soles to select models, it has carved out a strong skate presence with pros like Louis Lopez, Sage Elsesser, and Milton Martinez, while still maintaining an on-court footprint with Draymond Green and Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander.
Recent collaborations, including Kenzo x Chuck 70, Feng Chen Wang’s deconstructed Chucks, SNEEZE Magazine, and Charli XCX’s “By You” customization drops, keep Converse at the intersection of heritage, streetwear, and pop culture.
Mizuno
In the world of athletic footwear, Mizuno is too often overlooked. Founded in Osaka in 1906, it's one of the oldest sports brands in the game and has an archive to match. While the '80s and '90s were fruitful years for the brand, whose running and workout silhouettes stormed the market, the modern era has seen the Japanese giant take a back seat.
That is, until recently. Mizuno has reemerged with bold collaborations like Shinzo x Wave Prophecy LS and Over The Pitch x Morelia, proving its heritage silhouettes can feel fresh again. Partnerships with AS Monaco and ambassador João Félix position the brand at the intersection of performance and culture, making Mizuno one of the most compelling names in athletic footwear today.
Diadora
Although Italian sportswear brand Diadora has been around since 1948, it remains an underground icon to soccer “casuals” and European streetwear enthusiasts alike. Diadora was a hit in the ’70s and ’80s, drawing in traveling soccer fans from the UK with its luxurious tracksuits, colorful knitwear, and sleek sneakers. Icons such as tennis legend Björn Borg and soccer greats Roberto Baggio and Marco van Basten donned Diadora footwear, making the sports brand a giant both on and off the field.
Today, Diadora’s Italian craftsmanship is paired with reinvented styles, including an impending JW Anderson design. Its clothing takes styles from the most dominant period in the company's history and brings them straight into the modern athleisure fold. For anyone looking to add an Italian spirit to their sportswear wardrobe, Diadora is a European OG.
Merrell
There was a time when Merrell's outdoor-focused approach made it totally unsquareable with a stylish wardrobe. Long gone are those days. In the modern style era, the technical features that have always defined Merrell's output are sought-after, and have placed Merrell well within the remit of a contemporary fashion-forward rotation.
While the label does offer apparel, it's the footwear range that really makes Merrell worth your attention. From waterproof runners to city-ready lifestyle pieces that compete with the Salomons and HOKAs of the world, there's a style for everyone.
Saucony
Believe it or not, Saucony has been around since 1898. Of course, the label hasn't been producing performance running trainers since then, but it always bodes well when a brand has lived through so many eras. And it's in this mentality that we find Saucony's true value: it may not be the loudest, most heavily marketed brand doing big-name collaborations and selling out every style, but it continues to quietly make some of the best, most underrated silhouettes on the market.
While everybody else opts for the footwear giants, taking a look through Saucony's largely unexplored offering can reveal some serious gems.
Jordan Brand
Many sportswear brands have pivoted to reviving and reimagining chunky runners from their ’90s heyday, but Jordan Brand churns out remarkable retros on a completely different level, all thanks to the One That Started It All, the iconic Air Jordan 1.
Listing all of Jordan's collaborators over the years would probably require a separate excel sheet, but notables such as Virgil Abloh, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Paris Saint-Germain F.C., and J Balvin have all left their mark on the Jordan retro line. Beyond timeless reissues, Jordan Brand continues to innovate with contemporary basketball and lifestyle gear, including new pro BMX-inspired collaborations with Awol Crew and limited-edition streetwear projects in 2025.
Jordan remains at the forefront of culture and performance, with stars like Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum, while new designer collaborations and boutique drops keep the brand fresh in fashion and sneaker communities alike. 2026, here we come.
Lululemon
Cultural cache is hard to build for new brands. While names like Nike or adidas have had generations to build a name for themselves and find their cultural niche, new labels have a few years (at best) to find a foothold before they fade into oblivion. Lululemon is the blueprint for young brands when it comes to finding your zone and owning it.
In the clean, health-conscious world of yoga and wellness, Lululemon has become such a central name that its power extends to the everyday. A pair of Lululemon leggings is no longer reserved for exercise, but exists as a powerful cultural signifier. It says: "I care about my health, and how I look, and I may or may not have just come from pilates."
Brooks
Although founded in 1914, American brand Brooks only began to focus on running apparel in the '70s. It turns out that this was a good business decision. Hitting their stride just as jogging and fitness really took off in America, Brooks became a central player in the world of performance.
It's an accolade that continues today. While you may be unlikely to hear a sneakerhead talking about his latest Brooks pickup, you can bet that any runner who really runs has owned or does own a pair of Brooks running shoes.
Lacoste
People flock to Lacoste’s colorful crocodile‑logoed polos for an easy, clean‑cut casual look. The preppy French brand at times seems to share more in common with classic heritage labels than other athletic brands, but recently it has been leaning back into its tennis origins with high‑profile partnerships and event collaborations. Lacoste remains a premium partner of major tournaments like Roland‑Garros and the Rolex Paris Masters, where co‑branded collections and performance outfits showcase technical innovation aligned with its heritage in the sport.
Creatively, Lacoste continues to evolve beyond classic preppy codes. In 2025 the brand reinterpreted its iconic crocodile logo as a GOAT in a capsule celebrating Novak Djokovic ahead of the US Open, underlining both its cultural relevance and ongoing connection to tennis excellence.
Arc'teryx
Few outdoor brands have managed to grip the lifestyle world in the same way as Arc'teryx. The Canadian label founded in 1989 spent most of its life reserved for the most serious outdoorsmen. This was thanks in no small part to its ultra-specialist constructions and prices to match.
But, what the brand didn't expect was that an entire generation of style-conscious youth would rediscover the brand and totally recontextualize it as a subcultural icon. From graffiti writers to all-night ravers, the fully waterproof, taped-seam builds became essential in terms of performance and style. And while Arc'teryx has undeniably style appeal, it continues to be the go-to for genuine mountaineers.
Li-Ning
The Chinese sportswear brand arrived on people’s radars through its sneaker sponsorship deals with retired NBA all-star Dwyane Wade and a handful of other players, but Li-Ning's recent sneaker and apparel offerings made sure the fashion world took notice. Oringinally
In 2025‑2026, Li‑Ning has been pushing forward with new, culturally relevant releases like the Way of Wade 10, the Shadow 3.0, and lifestyle hybrids blending running tech with streetwear aesthetics. Collaborations with boutiques like Awol Crew and designers in Beijing have further strengthened the brand’s presence in fashion, while limited drops and global retail events keep collectors engaged.
Nike
The Beaverton giant remains the biggest sportswear brand in the world. Nike dominates nearly every sport, holding sponsorships from amateurs to Olympians, AAU teams to NBA squads. The Swoosh is one of the world’s most ubiquitous logos, as it has been for decades.
The brand continuously innovates with performance releases like the newly luxe-looking Vomero and culturally relevant collaborations, including Nike x Jacquemus or NOCTA x Chrome Hearts. Highly coveted drops across sport, fashion, and streetwear keep Nike in a league of its own.
Sergio Tacchini
Like its Italian compatriots FILA and ellesse, Sergio Tacchini was another brand adopted by the UK casuals on the terraces. To this day, its unmistakable '80s tracksuits still prove popular with retro enthusiasts and can be easily found in thrift stores.
Its eponymous founder, who was a professional tennis player, originally named the brand Sandys S.p.A. in 1966 before changing the name to Sergio Tacchini in 1969. Known for its maximalist remixes of traditional tennis whites, Sergio Tacchini famously sponsored the legendary Pete Sampras prior to the 14 time Grand Slam winner's switch to Nike. Goran Ivanišević, Novak Djokovic and John McEnroe are others to have worn the brand's elegant clothing over the years and collabs with A$AP Nast and Brain Dead helped spark a new revival for the legacy brand.
Umbro
Umbro’s soccer jerseys and cleats are etched into the history of the sport. The UK brand supplies uniforms for dozens of teams on five different continents, and has collaborated with Ssstein, for instance, bringing its sports heritage to more insider-y corners of fashion.
The label has also hauled some blocky ’90s sneaker styles from the vault, or as Umbro puts it, the Archive Research Project (ARP).
Under Armour
US sportswear brand Under Armour caught lightning in a bottle when it signed Golden State Warrior Stephen Curry as its signature athlete. Beyond the basketball court, the brand has been quietly redefining its identity, with recent releases like the UA Flow Velociti Edge and 2026 Project Rock apparel blending high-performance tech with street-ready aesthetics.
But Under Armour isn’t just riding on past successes. Sustainability-focused collections, alongside partnerships with emerging athletes across basketball, football, and combat sports, signal a brand intent on shaping culture as much as sport.
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