Where Does Nike Manufacture Its Performance Apparel?

Nike is one of the most recognized sportswear brands on the planet — but few people know where its high-performance apparel is actually made.
As someone who works directly in activewear manufacturing and supply chain sourcing, I’ve studied Nike’s production model closely.

Here’s an insider-friendly breakdown of where Nike’s performance apparel comes from, why those countries were chosen, and what this means for quality and sustainability.

Table of Contents

1. Is Nike Still Producing in the U.S.?
2. Top Countries Where Nike Manufactures Its Apparel
3. Why Nike Manufactures in Asia
4. Nike’s Factory Network: Scale and Quality Control
5. Sustainability in Nike’s Supply Chain
6. Nike vs Competitors: Manufacturing Comparison
7. What Apparel Startups Can Learn from Nike’s Model
8. FAQs
9. About FuKi Gymwear – Professional OEM for Performance Apparel

1. Is Nike Still Producing in the U.S.?

Nike is an American brand founded in Oregon, but most of its apparel is no longer made in the U.S..
Today, Nike focuses on design, innovation, and marketing in the U.S., while production takes place overseas in countries with advanced textile infrastructure.

💬 So, while Nike remains American in identity, its global manufacturing footprint ensures competitive pricing and scalability.

2. Top Countries Where Nike Manufactures Its Apparel

Nike’s apparel is produced across more than 40 countries, with the majority coming from Asia.
Here’s a breakdown of the key regions responsible for Nike’s performance wear:

💬 From my experience working with factories in China and Vietnam, these regions combine technical skill with world-class machinery.

3. Why Nike Manufactures in Asia

There are several reasons why Nike continues to depend on Asia for its activewear production:

1. Technical expertise – Factories specialize in sportswear seams, flatlock stitching, and compression.
2. Advanced machinery – Access to seamless knitting, laser cutting, and digital dyeing.
3. Cost efficiency – Lower labor costs allow investment in better materials and R&D.
4. Proximity to raw materials – Polyester, nylon, and elastane supply chains are based in Asia.
5. Sustainability partnerships – Many factories are certified under OEKO-TEX® and BSCI standards.

💬 Asian factories are not “cheap labor” anymore — they’re global leaders in quality and sustainability.

4. Nike’s Factory Network: Scale and Quality Control

Nike works with over 500 factories worldwide, but only a small percentage handle high-performance apparel — typically those with the most advanced capabilities.

💬 From a manufacturing perspective, Nike’s biggest strength is not volume — it’s consistency.

5. Sustainability in Nike’s Supply Chain

Nike has committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, focusing on sustainable materials and ethical production.

Key Initiatives:

• Move to Zero campaign: zero waste and zero carbon targets.
• Recycled polyester in over 80% of new performance apparel.
• Renewed footwear recycling (Nike Grind).
• Third-party audits for environmental and social standards.

💬 Sustainability isn’t just PR — Nike integrates it into supplier partnerships and product design.

6. Nike vs Competitors: Manufacturing Comparison

📊 Most global brands share the same production regions — what differentiates them is quality control and innovation focus.

7. What Apparel Startups Can Learn from Nike’s Model

If you’re building a new sportswear or activewear line, Nike’s strategy provides valuable takeaways:

✅ Partner with experienced factories — consistency matters more than price.
✅ Invest in testing — quality control ensures repeat customers.
✅ Combine sustainability + performance — the market demands both.
✅ Build a scalable supply chain — start small, plan global.

💬 At FuKiGymwear.com, we help startups follow this exact model — combining premium fabrics, ethical production, and scalable systems.

8. FAQs

Q1. Are Nike clothes made in China?
Yes, many Nike products — especially performance apparel and footwear — are made in China under strict quality controls.

Q2. Which country produces most of Nike’s apparel?
Vietnam is currently Nike’s largest production base for both apparel and footwear.

Q3. Is Nike’s manufacturing ethical?
Nike’s factories follow BSCI, WRAP, and OEKO-TEX® standards, focusing on fair labor and sustainability.

Q4. Do smaller brands use the same factories as Nike?
Yes — many OEM suppliers that serve Nike also work with smaller activewear brands under private label contracts.

9. About FuKi Gymwear – Professional OEM for Performance Apparel

At FuKiGymwear.com, we help global fitness and activewear brands manufacture premium-quality performance apparel inspired by leaders like Nike.

Our Services Include:

• OEM & ODM activewear production (Low MOQ – 100 pcs)
• High-performance fabrics: nylon, spandex, recycled polyester
• Private labeling, packaging & logo printing
• Fast sampling (7–10 days) & bulk delivery (25–35 days)
• Certified ethical production: BSCI / OEKO-TEX® / GRS

💬 If you’re building your own sportswear brand, we can help you match Nike-level quality with scalable, sustainable manufacturing.

👉 Start your custom performance apparel line today:
Visit FuKiGymwear.com to get expert OEM support and high-performance materials.