Where Is Nike Made?

Nike is one of the most recognized sportswear brands in the world — but many people are surprised to learn that Nike does not manufacture in the United States.
As someone working with global OEM factories, I often get asked:
“Where is Nike actually made, and why not produce in the U.S.?”

This article breaks down Nike’s manufacturing locations, why the brand uses global suppliers, and what this means for consumers and emerging brands.

Table of Contents

• Quick Answer
• 1. Nike’s Main Manufacturing Countries
• 2. Why Nike Manufactures Overseas
• 3. What Products Are Made in Each Region
• 4. Who Nike’s Sourcing Model Is Best For
• FAQs
• Related Resources

Quick Answer

Nike is made primarily in Vietnam, China, Indonesia, and other Asian manufacturing hubs. These regions specialize in high-performance materials, advanced knitting technologies, and cost-effective scaling.

💬 From my OEM experience:
Nike’s supply chain is built for precision, volume, and innovation — not domestic production.

1. Nike’s Main Manufacturing Countries

Nike partners with more than 500 factories worldwide. The majority are in Asia due to material availability and technical expertise.

Top manufacturing countries

📌 External References:

• Nike Official Site: https://www.nike.com
• Nike Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike,_Inc.

2. Why Nike Manufactures Overseas

Nike’s decision is not only about cost—it’s about capability.

1. Access to performance fabric mills

Asia holds the strongest mills for:

• Dri-FIT materials
• lightweight wovens
• engineered knits
• compression fabrics

2. Specialized machinery

• high-gauge knitting machines
• advanced bonding
• seamless technology
• outsole & midsole molding tools

These tools are expensive and concentrated in Asia.

3. Ability to scale production

Global demand requires millions of units — something domestic factories cannot sustain.

💬 From a factory POV:
Producing Nike-level quality requires years of training and supply-chain systems. Only a handful of countries can support that level.

3. What Products Are Made in Each Region

Nike divides production by category to optimize efficiency.

Footwear

• Vietnam
• China
• Indonesia

Performance Apparel

• Vietnam
• China
• Thailand
• Cambodia

Lifestyle Apparel

• China
• Turkey
• Egypt (smaller share)

Accessories

• China
• Vietnam

Comparison Table

4. Who Nike’s Sourcing Model Is Best For

Nike’s global manufacturing approach works well for brands focused on scale and innovation.

Best for:

✔ performance sportswear brands
✔ brands needing advanced knitting or molding
✔ companies producing large global volumes
✔ teams wanting long-term material consistency

Not ideal for:

✘ micro-brand startups needing small batches
✘ brands wanting domestic production
✘ companies requiring artisan-level handmade work

Recommendation for new brands

If you’re building activewear and want Nike-level performance, you’ll need an OEM partner who can access high-spec fabrics and industrial tech.

👉 FuKi Gymwear: https://fukigymwear.com
We help emerging brands manufacture:

• compression leggings
• running tops
• training shorts
• seamless performance gear

FAQs

Q1: Does Nike manufacture in the USA?
No. Production shifted overseas decades ago.

Q2: Why is most Nike apparel made in Vietnam?
Vietnam has stable quality, skilled workers, and strong supply-chain support.

Q3: Are Nike shoes made in China still high quality?
Yes. China holds some of the world’s best footwear tooling facilities.

Q4: Does Nike own its factories?
No. It works with independent suppliers under strict compliance standards.

Related Resources

• Nike official website: https://www.nike.com
• Nike Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nike,_Inc.
• Running apparel manufacturing guide (FuKi Gymwear): https://fukigymwear.com