New Brand Finance data shows Chinese brands are strengthening their global standing through innovation, category expertise, and premium positioning
BEIJING, 19 August 2026 - Chinese apparel brands contributed a combined brand value of USD15.2 billion across five brands in the Brand Finance Apparel 50 2026 report, up 27% year-on-year. According to Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation consultancy, the growth reflects the increasing ability of Chinese brands to compete through innovation, functionality, quality, and stronger consumer engagement.
As Chinese brands continue to expand beyond manufacturing strength and category leadership, they are building higher-value brand positioning, strengthening their presence in premium segments, and gaining greater recognition on the global stage.
Chow Tai Fook (brand value up 13% to USD4.7 billion) is the highest-ranked Chinese brand in the Apparel 50, placing 19th globally. The brand’s strong position highlights the contribution of established consumer recognition and premium positioning to China’s representation in the global ranking.
Anta (brand value up 3% to USD3.5 billion) ranks 26th globally, reinforcing the strength of Chinese sportswear within the international apparel landscape. Its presence alongside Li Ning highlights the growing importance of performance, functionality and sporting credibility as Chinese brands compete for consumer attention.
Laopu Gold (brand value USD2.7 billion) is a new entrant to the ranking, placing 35th globally. Its entry adds further depth to China’s representation, reflecting the growing presence of Chinese brands in higher-value consumer segments.
Bosideng (brand value up 21% to USD2.5 billion) is the fastest-growing apparel brand globally in 2026. The brand has increased its value by nearly 170% since 2019, supported by a long-term strategy focused on technology-driven innovation. Its use of AI and data analytics across product development, manufacturing, retail operations and supply chain management has helped improve responsiveness to consumer demand and operational efficiency.
Bosideng’s strong position in China’s down apparel market remains central to its performance, with the brand benefiting from consumer associations with quality, expertise and value. At the same time, it is broadening beyond down jackets into premium outdoor and functional apparel, supported by digital retail, direct-to-consumer engagement and store modernisation.
The brand is also using international fashion and design collaborations to strengthen its global profile. Its October 2025 runway debut at Paris Fashion Week and AREAL collection, created with Kim Jones, marked a significant step towards building international awareness and competing in higher-value apparel segments. As Bosideng marks its 50th anniversary, its expansion beyond its traditional category demonstrates how Chinese brands can combine established domestic expertise with innovation and global design to create new platforms for growth.
Li Ning (new entrant at USD1.7 billion) completes China’s five representatives and emerges as a brand to watch. It ranks as the ninth strongest apparel brand globally, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 84.3/100 and an AAA- brand strength rating. The brand has strengthened its position through product innovation, technological advancement, improved channel efficiency and a stronger identity as a professional sportswear brand.
Li Ning’s sporting credentials are also helping it build international visibility. In 2025, the brand returned as the official sports apparel partner of the Chinese Olympic Committee and Chinese sports delegation for the 2025–2028 cycle, while its presence across international sporting events including table tennis and badminton supports its ambition to expand its influence beyond China.
Scott Chen, Managing Director, Brand Finance China, commented:
“Chinese apparel brands are increasingly demonstrating their ability to turn strong domestic positions into globally recognised brands. Bosideng’s position as the world’s fastest-growing apparel brand and Li Ning’s emergence as a new entrant in the global apparel ranking demonstrate the growing strength of Chinese brands in combining innovation, category expertise and cultural relevance. As Chinese consumers increasingly seek quality, functionality and premium experiences, brands that can build trust at home while developing distinctive identities internationally will be well positioned to create long-term brand value.”
Brand Finance is the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Bridging the gap between marketing and finance, Brand Finance evaluates the strength of brands and quantifies their financial value to help organisations make strategic decisions.
Headquartered in London, Brand Finance operates in over 25 countries. Every year, Brand Finance conducts more than 6,000 brand valuations, supported by original market research, and publishes over 100 reports which rank brands across all sectors and countries.
Brand Finance also operates the Global Brand Equity Monitor, conducting original market research annually on 6,000 brands, surveying more than 175,000 respondents across 41 countries and 31 industry sectors. By combining perceptual data from the Global Brand Equity Monitor with data from its valuation database — the largest brand value database in the world — Brand Finance equips ambitious brand leaders with the data, analytics, and the strategic guidance they need to enhance brand and business value.
In addition to calculating brand value, Brand Finance also determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics, compliant with ISO 20671.
Brand Finance is a regulated accountancy firm and a committed leader in the standardisation of the brand valuation industry. Brand Finance was the first to be certified by independent auditors as compliant with both ISO 10668 and ISO 20671 and has received the official endorsement of the Marketing Accountability Standards Board (MASB) in the United States.
Brand is defined as a marketing-related intangible asset including, but not limited to, names, terms, signs, symbols, logos, and designs, intended to identify goods, services, or entities, creating distinctive images and associations in the minds of stakeholders, thereby generating economic benefits.
Brand strength is the efficacy of a brand’s performance on intangible measures relative to its competitors. Brand Finance evaluates brand strength in a process compliant with ISO 20671, looking at Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and the impact of those on Business Performance. The data used is derived from Brand Finance’s proprietary market research programme and from publicly available sources.
Each brand is assigned a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score out of 100, which feeds into the brand value calculation. Based on the score, each brand is assigned a corresponding Brand Rating up to AAA+ in a format similar to a credit rating.
Brand Finance calculates the values of brands in its rankings using the Royalty Relief approach – a brand valuation method compliant with the industry standards set in ISO 10668. It involves estimating the likely future revenues that are attributable to a brand by calculating a royalty rate that would be charged for its use, to arrive at a ‘brand value’ understood as a net economic benefit that a brand owner would achieve by licensing the brand in the open market.
The steps in this process are as follows:
1 Calculate brand strength using a balanced scorecard of metrics assessing Marketing Investment, Stakeholder Equity, and Business Performance. Brand strength is expressed as a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score on a scale of 0 to 100.
2 Determine royalty range for each industry, reflecting the importance of brand to purchasing decisions. In luxury, the maximum percentage is high, while in extractive industry, where goods are often commoditised, it is lower. This is done by reviewing comparable licensing agreements sourced from Brand Finance’s extensive database.
3 Calculate royalty rate. The BSI score is applied to the royalty range to arrive at a royalty rate. For example, if the royalty range in a sector is 0-5% and a brand has a BSI score of 80 out of 100, then an appropriate royalty rate for the use of this brand in the given sector will be 4%.
4 Determine brand-specific revenues by estimating a proportion of parent company revenues attributable to a brand.
5 Determine forecast revenues using a function of historic revenues, equity analyst forecasts, and economic growth rates.
6 Apply the royalty rate to the forecast revenues to derive brand revenues.
7 Discount post-tax brand revenues to a net present value which equals the brand value.
Brand Finance has produced this study with an independent and unbiased analysis. The values derived and opinions presented in this study are based on publicly available information and certain assumptions that Brand Finance used where such data was deficient or unclear. Brand Finance accepts no responsibility and will not be liable in the event that the publicly available information relied upon is subsequently found to be inaccurate. The opinions and financial analysis expressed in the study are not to be construed as providing investment or business advice. Brand Finance does not intend the study to be relied upon for any reason and excludes all liability to any body, government, or organisation.
The data presented in this study form part of Brand Finance's proprietary database, are provided for the benefit of the media, and are not to be used in part or in full for any commercial or technical purpose without written permission from Brand Finance.
