Top 10 Apparel Brands in the World

Each one of the top 10 apparel brands in the world are big names in the fashion industry. These brands not only have their own unique style and quality, but have also become fashion statements and status symbols in their own right. While some of these brands belong to the high-end luxury segment, the others fall more on the casual side of the fashion ledger.

Fashion is driven by changing trends and evolves rapidly. With rapid communication enabled by social media, consumers today have become much more demanding. Demand for high-end fashion products is also increasing rapidly, especially in the Asia, North America and Western Europe regions. Most of the merchandise sold in Western countries is imported from China and other Asian countries like Indonesia and Vietnam. These nations have become leading apparel manufacturing hubs owing to their low cost of production. E-commerce has made a major impact in this industry and many of the top 10 apparel brands in the world today offer a mix of online and offline sales channels.

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Many of these companies started out as local brands but today have a global clientele. Rapid globalization and internet penetration has helped these brands expand their businesses around the globe. According to Statista, the global apparel market is poised to grow in most of the major regions. The United States’ apparel market alone is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 2% to $285 billion by 2025, up from $225 billion in 2012. These fashion brands with their global reach, consumer loyalty and stylish merchandise will surely benefit from this growth trend. The apparel industry is a major contributor to the economies of many countries. According to Fashion United, the global apparel market accounts for 2% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is valued at $3 trillion.

Over the next few pages we’ll share the list of the top 10 apparel brands in the world, based on their Forbes brand value. For further reading on popular and powerful brands, check out the Top 10 Luxury Brands in the World.

10. Lululemon Athletica Inc (NASDAQ:LULU)

$1.12 billion

With a brand value of $1.12 billion in 2015, we start with Lululemon Athletica Inc, the sports apparel company operating 360 stores located in the U.S, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, and Puerto Rico. The company also has a large online presence and sells directly through websites to customers. Headquartered in Canada, the company has become world-renowned for its unique yoga-inspired clothing in just two decades of existence.

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9. Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL)

$3.5 billion

Lifestyle products company Ralph Lauren has wholesale, retail and licensing segments. Started 40 years ago with a collection of ties, the company today has expanded to brand names including Polo by Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren Purple Label, Ralph Lauren Collection, Black Label, Ralph Lauren Childrenswear, and many more. Headquartered in New York City, Ralph Lauren Corporation is a publicly traded American company.

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8. Under Armour Inc. (NYSE:UA)

$5 billion

Under Armour Inc., the North American athletic apparel and accessories company, has more than 150 factory stores throughout the U.S. The company has a global presence and operates through its North America, EMEA, Asia-Pacific and Connected Fitness segments. A brand loved and worn by athletes around the globe, Under Armour became the Official Match Ball Partner of the North American Soccer League last year. And now, let’s see what else we have in our list of top 10 apparel brands in the world.

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7. Adidas AG (ADR) (OTCMKTS:ADDYY)

$7 billion

The German shoes, sportswear and accessories company dates back to 1924. Popular for its shoes, Adidas manufactures a distinctive range of shoes and apparel for different sports like football, golf, tennis, and running.  The company employs more than 55,000 people in over 160 countries and produces more than 778 million product units every year. Adidas, which was started by humble shoe maker Adi Dassler, has today become a sports brand with a value of $7 billion.

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6. UNIQLO

$7 billion

Also checking in with a brand value of $7 billion, Uniqlo ranks sixth on our list of the top 10 apparel brands in the world. The company also ranks 91st on Forbes list of the world’s most valuable brands. Uniqlo is a modern Japanese company that manufactures casual clothes. Uniqlo is a massive success in Asia, but it is also expanding to other parts of the world. Starting with just a single store, Uniqlo today has a geographic footprint extending to 14 countries globally in Australia and the U.S.

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5. Zara

$10.7 billion

Up next in our list of top 10 apparel brands in the world is Zara that is a go-to fashion brand for all. The Spanish company is known for its affordable and stylish range of clothes and accessories. Zara has become the world’s largest retailer, with 6,500 stores across 88 countries around the world. Zara sells clothes, shoes, cosmetics and accessories for men, women, and children. Zara rapidly imbibes fast changing fashion trends through its express, vertically-integrated supply chain.

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4. Hermes

$11.7 billion

With more than 175 years of experience, Hermes, the number 4 in our list of top 10 apparel brands in the world is one of the most valuable brands in the world today. Starting as a harness making shop in 1837 in Paris, Hermes later diversified into scarves and bags. Today the brand has become a status symbol and is celebrated by famous celebrities like Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore and many other eminent personalities. Hermes was one of the first luxury brands to launch an e-commerce site in 2001.

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3. Gucci

$12 billion

The Italian luxury fashion house, Gucci, is part of the Kering Group, a world leader in apparel and accessories. The founder of Gucci started off selling leather bags to horsemen, which later transformed into selling luxury bags, apparel and accessories. Known for their unique style and design, Gucci bags have become synonymous with elegance and status. Gucci is regarded as being amongst the most valuable brands globally, valued at about $12 billion.

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2. H&M

$15.9 billion

We are continuing our list of top 10 apparel brands in the world with the H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) group that is another leading fashion company, which owns brands H&M, COS, Weekday, Cheap Monday, Monki and & Other Stories. Started in 1947 in Sweden, today the company operates more than 4,300 stores in 64 markets. The company provides employment to over 1.6 million people and ranks as the 33rd-largest retailer in the world according to Forbes. H&M is known for its customary team dance before each store launch in front of its waiting customers.

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1. Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE)

$27.5 billion

With a brand value of $27.5 billion, Nike Inc is the most valuable of the top 10 apparel brands in the world. The American multinational sports footwear and apparel company is driven by innovation and believes that one should “Just Do It.” The company owns a strong portfolio of brands including Converse, Jordan and Hurley. Nike’s sportswear is “designed for sport, crafted for life”, and is comfortably worn not only for sport and exercise, but also casually.

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Disclosure: None