Nike

Nike is a sportswear company built around athletic shoes, training gear, and the lifestyle clothing that grew out of them. By our assessment, its greatest strength is design muscle: the brand has a clear feel, and its shoes and apparel often sit where sport, fashion, and everyday wear meet. The downside is that the logo and image are so strong that the company can feel pricier than the plain function of the item would suggest. In practice Nike is everywhere, from running shoes and basketball lines to hoodies and tracksuits, so the experience ranges from serious performance gear to casual street wear. It sits near the top of global sportswear, alongside Adidas and a smaller set of rivals, and it has long been a reference point for how athletic branding works. People who want recognizable sportswear with a strong visual identity usually find it easy to read; people who want the quietest, least logo-heavy option may not. The company is based in the United States.