Under Armour sportswear

Under Armour was founded in 1996 by Kevin Plank, a former University of Maryland football player who sought to replace sweat-soaked cotton T-shirts with performance-driven, moisture-wicking synthetic fabrics. Starting from his grandmother's basement in Washington, D.C., the brand quickly gained a foothold in the athletic world by supplying high-performance gear to college and professional sports teams.

Today, Under Armour is a global powerhouse in the sportswear industry, though it maintains its roots with a global headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. Its manufacturing strategy is highly diversified to optimize costs and technical expertise, with the vast majority of its production occurring in Asia. Key manufacturing hubs include China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Jordan, and Malaysia, while a smaller portion of specialized or high-end items is produced in the United States and other regions.

The company is a publicly traded entity listed on the New York Stock Exchange. As of 2026, founder Kevin Plank remains the ultimate driving force behind the brand, having returned as CEO in 2024. He maintains significant control over the company's direction through a dual-class stock structure, ensuring that the brand's original 'underdog' identity and focus on performance innovation continue to define its global operations.