Nike athletic apparel and footwear

Nike is a global leader in the athletic industry, with a manufacturing strategy that focuses heavily on Southeast Asia. As of 2026, the company continues to outsource the vast majority of its production to independent contract manufacturers rather than owning its own factories. Vietnam stands as the primary hub, responsible for approximately 50% of footwear and 35% of apparel production. China remains a significant partner, contributing around 27% of footwear and 30% of apparel, while Indonesia accounts for roughly 18% of footwear. Other notable manufacturing locations include Thailand, Cambodia, and India, which provide a diversified supply chain to manage global demand and labor costs.

The brand's story began in 1964 in Oregon, USA, as Blue Ribbon Sports, founded by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman. Originally a distributor for Japanese footwear, it rebranded to Nike in 1971 and evolved into an innovation-led powerhouse. Today, Nike, Inc. is a publicly-traded corporation (NYSE: NKE). While its economic ownership is widely distributed among major institutional investors like Vanguard and BlackRock, the Knight family maintains substantial voting control through a dual-class share structure via investment vehicles like Swoosh LLC. This setup ensures that the legacy of the original founders continues to influence the brand's long-term strategic direction.