Not just sports, Nike is top apparel brand

Nike is the world’s most valuable apparel firm, according to data presented by FinancePR.com, showing that the American outfit achieved a $30.44 bln valuation in 2021, placing it at the helm of leading garment firms worldwide.

Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Adidas came in second, third and fourth, respectively.

Gucci closed the year with a valuation of about $16 bln. Louis Vuitton and Adidas, on the other hand, posted valuations of about $15 bln and $14 bln.

 

Little Competition

“The apparels sector continues to thrive amidst the global economy downtown. Nike continues to hold the upper hand here because it faces moderate competition,” explained FinancePR.com’s Edith Reads.

“That’s because it has a highly differentiated product offering, and consumer switching costs have remained low,” she said commenting on the data.

The figures point to Nike’s strong financial record.

In the 2020 fiscal year, it made over $44 bln in sales. That was an increase of over $ 5 bln from its 2019 figures.

Again, statistics show that its North American business was its most lucrative one. The region added over $17 bln of its 2021 revenues.

Furthermore, the U.S market is its most significant, accounting for about 40% of global earnings.

 

Footwear is main driver

Nike generates income from three major segments; apparel, footwear, and equipment. Of the three, the footwear segment is its largest and most profitable. It earned the company some $28 bln from sales in 2021.

The Oregon headquartered outfit has a worldwide presence. Its most popular products include Air Jordan, Nike, and Converse.

But it also markets a broad selection of other sports items. Besides its ‘Swoosh’ logo, the brand is visible by the catchy tagline, “Just do it.”

The firm has the endorsement of prominent names in the sporting arena, including LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Rafael Nadal. It also sponsors football teams such as FC Barcelona.