26-Fold Growth in Five Years... "The Arc'teryx of China" Kolon Sports Surpasses KRW 1 Trillion in Sales in China

Kolon Sports Set to Reach KRW 1.2 Trillion in Annual Sales in China This Year
Targeting the Chinese Premium Market Leveraging 50 Years of Outdoor Heritage
Operating 200 Stores Across China Through Anta's Distribution Network and Brand Competitiv

Kolon Industry FnC’s outdoor brand Kolon Sport is expected to exceed 600 billion won in sales in China for the first half of this year. This figure surpasses the first-half sales achieved by Kolon Industry FnC in the previous year. Analysts attribute this success to the brand’s strategy of targeting the premium market, leveraging over 50 years of outdoor heritage and product competitiveness.

According to the Financial Supervisory Service's Electronic Disclosure System and the fashion industry on July 30, revenue for Kolon Sport China, the joint venture in charge of Kolon Sport’s business in China, is forecast to surpass 600 billion won from January to June this year. Sales for the first quarter (January–March) reached 362.7 billion won. According to first-half retail sales performance by brand, recently disclosed by Anta Sports on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, retail sales of “other brands,” which include Kolon Sport, increased by 35–40% year-on-year in the first half.

Kolon Sport is considered the fastest-growing brand among these "other brands." In China, Kolon Sport continues to achieve quarterly growth of around 50%. The industry anticipates that annual sales for this year will approach 1.2 trillion won, up 31% compared to the previous year’s 914.1 billion won.

Kolon Sport Myeongdong Store. Provided by Kolon Industry FnC.

Sales Grow 26-fold in 5 Years, Successfully Entering the Chinese Premium Market

The growth trajectory of Kolon Sport China has been remarkable. First-half sales rose sharply year-on-year, from 15.1 billion won in 2020, to 44.6 billion won in 2021, 70.3 billion won in 2022, 118.6 billion won in 2023, 199.8 billion won in 2024, and 393 billion won last year. In just five years, sales have grown by roughly 26 times.

In contrast, Kolon Industry FnC has seen declining sales in the domestic market, dropping from 1.2743 trillion won in 2023, to 1.2119 trillion won in 2024, and further to 1.1647 trillion won last year. However, first-quarter revenue this year reached 275.5 billion won, up 4.8% from 262.9 billion won in the same period last year.

China remains one of the most fiercely competitive markets for both global brands and local companies. Many domestic fashion brands that once entered China, with a few exceptions such as E-Land World’s Teenie Weenie and other brands, have failed to localize or have wound down their operations. Particularly in the outdoor market where functionality and brand trust are critical, it is rare for a Korean brand to establish itself as a premium name.

Nevertheless, China is a market that foreign brands find hard to abandon. The high entry barriers are offset by massive growth potential, making the market highly competitive among global brands. According to China’s General Administration of Sport, the country’s outdoor sports population now exceeds 400 million. China Business News predicts that China’s outdoor footwear and apparel market will maintain average annual growth of over 15%, reaching a projected 200 billion yuan (about 43 trillion won) by 2030.

50 Years of Brand Heritage Drive Success

Kolon Sport’s competitiveness is widely attributed to its brand heritage, built over more than five decades. Launched in 1973, Kolon Sport grew alongside Korea’s mountain culture, continuously developing functional materials and products, which have become core to its competitive edge in China as well.

In China, Kolon Sport focused on establishing itself as a “specialized outdoor brand,” rather than merely a clothing retailer. The brand operated outdoor experience programs such as trekking and camping, and expanded its distribution network by focusing on flagship stores and large-scale outlets. This strategy of emphasizing functionality and a premium brand image has proven effective, earning Kolon Sport the nickname “the Arc'teryx of China” locally.

Kolon Sport benefited from the support of Anta Group, China’s largest sportswear company, in its distribution expansion. In 2017, Kolon Industry FnC established a 50-50 joint venture, Kolon Sport China, with Anta Group. Kolon handled brand management, product planning, and marketing, while Anta took charge of local distribution and store operations. Currently, the brand runs around 200 stores across China.

The elevated brand awareness in China has also had an impact domestically. In January this year, Kolon Sport opened a flagship store in Seoul’s Myeongdong, which quickly became a hotspot for foreign tourists. From February through July 27, the store attracted around 160,000 visitors, averaging 26,000 per month; 89% of these visitors were foreigners. By nationality, the largest group was Chinese, followed by Taiwanese, Americans, and Japanese. Store sales also surpassed initial targets.

Kolon Sport plans to further strengthen its strategy as a specialist outdoor brand in both China and Korea. In China, the brand will continue to focus on experiential content and large-scale stores to enhance its premium image, while in Korea, it aims to leverage its five-decade heritage to boost competitiveness in its hero line and trail running categories.

A fashion industry insider commented, “Kolon Sport’s achievements cannot be explained by Anta’s distribution network alone. Chinese consumers recognize not only the logo’s design but also the brand’s history, technology, and product competitiveness, which have together established it as a premium outdoor brand.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.