Top Activewear Brands: Stylish & Performance-Driven Picks

In the ever-evolving world of fitness fashion, activewear brands play a crucial role in merging style and functionality. The market has seen an explosion of options, each offering unique materials and designs tailored to different fitness needs and personal styles. Brands are constantly innovating to provide not only high-performance gear but also sustainable and ethically produced options that cater to a growing eco-conscious audience. Curious to find out which brands are leading the pack in 2023? Discover our top picks outlined below.

Illustration of activewear

Best brands of activewear in 2025

Nike

Nike, founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports and officially becoming Nike, Inc. in 1971, has grown to be a leading activewear producer with a 16.4% global market share in 2024, and while experiencing a slight decrease from 17.1% in 2022, it still maintains a strong position; in 2023, Nike's annual revenue was $51.2 billion, demonstrating its financial strength, and according to some reports, Nike holds a total market share of 38.68%. Nike's continued success is due to its innovative products and effective marketing strategies, making it a popular choice for athletes and fitness enthusiasts worldwide; you can explore their products at Nike's official website.

Adidas

Founded in 1949 by Adi Dassler, Adidas has grown to be the largest sportswear manufacturer in Europe and the second largest worldwide, holding a 15.4% global market share in athletic footwear as of 2022, and a 15.6% market share in shoes overall, with 2022 footwear revenue reaching $13.2 billion. Adidas employs around 59,000 people globally and is known for its iconic three-stripe logo, offering a wide range of activewear, footwear, and sporting goods. Despite facing increased competition, Adidas remains a key player in the sportswear industry, especially in Western Europe, where it held a 17.3% market share in sports footwear in 2023. Shop Adidas products.

Under Armour

Under Armour, founded in 1996, has established a strong position in the activewear market, focusing on innovative, performance-driven apparel and technology, achieving $1.2 billion in U.S. apparel and footwear sales through August of 2024, experiencing a 20% sales jump this year, although facing increasing competition. Despite a 3.4% revenue decrease in fiscal year 2024, Under Armour aims to regain growth through product innovation and expanding into lifestyle segments, with direct-to-consumer revenue forecasted to reach 49% of total revenue by fiscal year 2033. You can explore their products on their official website.

Lululemon

Lululemon, a leading activewear brand, has demonstrated consistent growth, with a 24.7% compound annual growth rate in revenue over the past five years, reaching $9.6 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2023. Lululemon's market share in the US sportswear market increased from 3.9% to 5.4% between 2020 and 2023, and they held a 6.5% share of the North American sports apparel market in 2023, making them second to Nike. The company's strategic expansion into menswear and accessories has propelled its growth beyond just women's yoga apparel, and they now operate over 700 stores worldwide. Additionally, their international sales, particularly in China, have consistently shown robust performance with over $2 billion in sales outside of North America in 2023. Lululemon continues to be a popular and successful brand in the activewear market with high sales per square foot of $1,609 and $13.5 million per store in 2023. For more information about their products, visit their official store.

Patagonia

Patagonia, established in 1973, is a leading American outdoor clothing company renowned for its commitment to sustainability, using over 70% environmentally preferred raw materials, with 87% of fabrics from preferred materials this season, and is a top brand in resale popularity, holding nearly 10% of the outdoor apparel market share. The company also donates 1% of its sales to environmental causes and is known for its Worn Wear program, which encourages repairing and reusing gear to reduce waste.

Reebok

Reebok, established in 1895 as J.W. Foster and Sons, initially gained recognition for innovative running shoes, then revolutionized women's activewear with the 1982 Freestyle launch, and despite holding a smaller market share of 1.1% in sports footwear and 0.3% in apparel as of 2021, the brand reached $1.82 billion in sales in 1989, briefly surpassing Nike, and continues to be a global sportswear brand with a focus on quality and performance.

Puma

Puma, founded in 1948 by Rudolf Dassler, has grown to be a leading activewear producer, achieving over EUR 8 billion in annual sales by 2023 and holding approximately a 2.6% share of the global sportswear market. Their footwear collection has been particularly successful, accounting for 53% of their sales that year. Among their best selling products are the Roma Classic Gum sneakers, originally released in 1968, and the Puma Slipstream, known for its chunky style. Explore their latest collections.

Athleta

Athleta, founded in 1998, is a performance-based lifestyle brand that designs versatile and premium activewear, integrating technical features to support women's diverse activities. Despite experiencing an 8% decrease in full year net sales in 2023, the brand achieved a 4% increase in net sales in the third quarter of 2024 with a 5% increase in comparable sales. This demonstrates Athleta's commitment to empowering women through movement with a focus on quality and innovation. The brand continues to gain market share within the activewear industry, especially with its new train collection made with the proprietary PowerMove fabric. You can explore their products on their official website.

Gymshark

Gymshark, founded in 2012 by Ben Francis, has become a leading activewear brand, achieving a 15% revenue increase in 2023, reaching £556.2 million, with a focus on high-quality, functional, and stylish apparel for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Now a global brand with over 10 million customers and a valuation of over $1.3 billion, Gymshark leverages innovative marketing strategies and a commitment to sustainability to solidify its position as a favorite among the fitness community. They offer various styles of activewear, most known for their top-quality leggings, averaging around $60. Explore more about their high-performance activewear on their official website.

New Balance

New Balance, founded in 1906, has grown into a major activewear producer, with 80% of their $4.24 billion revenue in 2022 coming from footwear, and they hold a 10% market share in the US, while globally, they hold 4% of the market; the brand is known for its comfortable and performance-oriented designs and a wide range of sizes, with a focus on inclusivity and innovation; New Balance also experienced a significant 214.1% growth in their footwear revenue from 2008 to 2022 and has a strong presence in the NBA, with a 2.3% share in the 2022-2023 season; in addition, they are committed to sustainability, aiming for 100% preferred leather and cotton in manufacturing by 2025. You can find their products on their official website: New Balance.