The Chinese Sports Brand Taking on Nike and Adidas
Thursday, 2026/04/30183 words3 minutes414 reads
In the late 1980s, 17-year-old Ding Shizhong traveled to Beijing with 600 pairs of shoes made in his relative's factory. After selling them, he used the money to open his first workshop, where he began making footwear for other companies.
Today, his business has grown into Anta, a major Chinese sportswear brand. Founded in 1991 in Jinjiang city, Anta started as a small manufacturer making shoes for global brands like Nike and Adidas. The city became known as the "shoe capital" of the world, with thousands of factories and specialized supply chains.
Anta gradually built its own brand in China, opening shops and partnering with sporting events. In 2007, it listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Now, Anta has more than 10,000 shops in China and sponsors top athletes like freestyle skier Eileen Gu.
The company is expanding globally through acquisitions. It bought brands like Arc'teryx, Salomon, and Wilson, and recently purchased a stake in Puma. In February, Anta opened its first US store in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. The company aims to compete with Nike and Adidas on the world stage.
