Top-10 Sportswear Brands Most Mentioned by Influencers
With the constant evolution of social media, sportswear brands are increasingly looking to collaborate with these influencers to reach a wider audience and boost their visibility. In this article, we'll explore the top 10 sportswear brands most mentioned by influencers in 2023 based on data collected by Kolsquare.
sportswear
Kolsquare Methodology
Based on the analysis of Kolsquare data, this study presents the performance of brands in the sports industry (sportswear brands, sports accessories & equipment, sporting events and nutrition) worldwide. Based on the analysis of our exhaustive catalog of influencers, including more than 803,105 profiles that have mentioned one of the 142 Sports brands analyzed or used one of their brand hashtags at least once. The 10,877,995 posts analyzed between April 2022 and May 2023 were identified through mentions and brand hashtags on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter.
Top-10 Most Mentioned Sportswear Brands by Influencers
According to our ranking, the sportswear brands that dominate social networks (all platforms combined – Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube & Twitter) are:
1.Nike
Topping the ranking with 214,832 mentions, Nike is an iconic brand that has always remained at the forefront of innovation. With its hard-hitting campaigns and collaborations with world-renowned athletes, Nike continues to dominate the sportswear industry and establish itself as a benchmark for influencers.
2. Adidas
Just behind Nike, Adidas maintains its privileged position in the world of sportswear. It was mentioned 83,958 times by influencers over the given period. The German brand is known for its timeless style and ability to fuse fashion and performance. Adidas regularly partners with celebrities and influencers to create collections that capture the attention of their respective audiences.
3. Gymshark
Gymshark is a relatively young brand that has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years. It accumulates 83,183 mentions. Thanks to its presence on social networks and its collaborations with fitness influencers, Gymshark has rapidly established itself as a benchmark in the sportswear world for bodybuilding and fitness enthusiasts.
4. New Balance
Generating 82,524 mentions, New Balance is a well-established brand that continues to attract the attention of influencers thanks to its retro designs and exceptional quality. The American brand has been able to adapt to current trends while retaining its distinct identity, enabling it to appeal to a big audience.
5. Converse
Converse, known for its iconic shoes, remains a must-have sportswear brand. Its collaborations with artists, musicians and influencers (61, 668 mentions) have kept it relevant and present in online conversations.
6. Lululemon
Lululemon, which specializes in high-end sportswear, won the hearts of influencers with its blend of style, comfort and functionality. It accumulated 51,687 influencer mentions. The Canadian brand is often associated with yoga and is appreciated for its high-quality fabrics and elegant designs.
7. Puma
Puma, another world-renowned brand, continues to make its mark in the world of sportswear. Thanks to its collaborations with celebrities and influencers from different fields, Puma manages to reach a big audience and maintain its popularity. It has 40,966 mentions.
8. Oceans Apart
Oceans Apart is a trendy brand that has grown exponentially thanks to its presence on social networks (39,285 mentions). This brand of ethical and eco-friendly sportswear has attracted the attention of influencers who care about the environment and are looking for sustainable products.
9. Vans
Although primarily known for its skate shoes, the Vans brand has made a name for itself in the sportswear arena. With its creative collaborations and distinctive aesthetic, Vans attracts the attention of influencers from different backgrounds. It has accumulated 35,791 influencer mentions on social networks.
10. Aloyoga
With 28,989 mentions, Alo Yoga is a brand specializing in yoga and meditation clothing. It has positioned itself as a benchmark in this field thanks to its modern designs and quality materials. Wellness and health influencers particularly appreciate this brand for its philosophy focused on mental and physical well-being.
The Share of Voice of Sportswear Brands in Terms of EMV
Share of voice can be defined as a brand’s share or presence in the market relative to your competitors on different channels. It serves as a metric to determine how well-known and visible a brand is, figuratively what is its market share. The share of voice doesn’t refer to the percentage of sales but to the percentage of discussion.
In this ranking, the top-3 is dominated by NIKE, GYMSHARK and ADIDAS.
Nike: 19.77%
Gymshark: 12%
Adidas: 8.5%
Underarmour: 5.7%
Aloyoga: 5%
Puma: 4.8%
New Balance: 4.7%
Reebok: 4.4%
Lululemon: 4%
Converse: 3.4%
Key Figures From the Report
76% of content published by sportswear KOLs is in video format.
On Instagram, 55% of published content is posts, 8% Stories and 37% Reels.
The average engagement rate for the sector is 1.4%.
The top-3 brands that generate the most engagement on Instagram are: Nike, Gymshark and Adidas.
Influencer Marketing in the Sports Sector
Discover our latest study “Influencer Marketing in the Sports Industry in 2023", exploring how influencer marketing is redefining the relationship between brands and athletes, addressing the role of athletes as content creators, their impact on fans and the influence of sport on societal issues, thus offering strategic opportunities one year before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Kolsquare is Europe’s leading Influencer Marketing platform, offering a data-driven solution that empowers brands to scale their KOL (Key Opinion Leader) marketing strategies through authentic partnerships with top creators.
Kolsquare’s advanced technology helps marketing professionals seamlessly identify the best content creators by filtering their content and audience, while also enabling them to build, manage, and optimize campaigns from start to finish. This includes measuring results and benchmarking performance against competitors.
With a thriving global community of influencer marketing experts, Kolsquare serves hundreds of customers—including Coca-Cola, Netflix, Sony Music, Publicis, Sézane, Sephora, Lush, and Hermès—by leveraging the latest Big Data, AI, and Machine Learning technologies. Our platform taps into an extensive network of KOLs with more than 5,000 followers across 180 countries on Instagram, TikTok, X (Twitter), Facebook, YouTube, and Snapchat.
As a Certified B Corporation, Kolsquare leads the way in promoting Responsible Influence, championing transparency, ethical practices, and meaningful collaborations that inspire positive change.
Since October 2024, Kolsquare has become part of the Team.Blue group, one of the largest private tech companies in Europe, and a leading digital enabler for businesses and entrepreneurs across Europe. Team.Blue brings together over 60 successful brands in web hosting, domains, e-commerce, online compliance, lead generation, application solutions, and social media.