45.29 trillion yuan—that is the combined value of all brands on the 2026 China's Top 500 Most Valuable Brands list, up 7.76% year on year. The entry threshold rose to 5.089 billion yuan, and the number of billion-level brands reached 146. In this report released by World Brand Lab, over 30 textile and apparel brands were listed, covering the entire chain from raw materials to finished garments, sportswear, and home textiles.
Structural Changes in Brand Value
The listed brands in the textile and apparel sector are no longer just traditional manufacturing giants. Eight hundred-billion-level brands—including Erdos, Hengli, Weiqiao, Bosideng, Jinba, Qipai, Anta, and Yueda—form the core, but what is more noteworthy is the appearance of new consumer brands like Beneunder, Ubras, and Pop Mart. This indicates that brand value growth in the industry no longer relies on a single category but comes from diversified market positioning and consumption scenarios.
Geographically, listed brands are concentrated in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta industrial clusters, but a trend of expansion into central and western regions is also emerging. For example, Erdos, a representative western brand, derives its brand value not only from the scarcity of cashmere raw materials but also from continuous investment in sustainable fashion and high-end operations.
AI Influence: A New Dimension of Brand Competition
The biggest change in this year's list is the inclusion of the AI influence index in the evaluation system for the first time by World Brand Lab. This adjustment directly reflects a brand's voice and reach in the AI ecosystem. Professor Xu Jing from Peking University's Guanghua School of Management pointed out that in the digital age, a brand is no longer a static cognitive symbol but a dynamic system co-maintained by consumers, platforms, algorithms, content, and communities.
For the textile and apparel industry, this means brand building needs to shift from traditional advertising to competing for algorithmic visibility. A brand that fails to gain high weight in AI-driven search and recommendation systems will see its market reach shrink significantly. Ding Haisen, CEO of World Executive Group, emphasized that AI is becoming the new 'traffic gatekeeper,' and brands must leave an indelible mark on the algorithmic map.
From OEM to Brand: Four Driving Forces
The textile and apparel industry was once labeled by low-cost OEM, but this list reveals a clear transformation path. Technological innovation is the primary driver—companies like Hengli and Rongsheng Petrochemical have increased product added value through new chemical fiber materials. Cultural empowerment is evident in brands like Jinba and Qipai, which integrate traditional elements into modern designs. Green and low-carbon practices have become an industry consensus, with Erdos and Weiqiao's investment in eco-friendly production directly translating into brand premium. Global operations are reflected in brands like Anta and Li-Ning, which have expanded cross-market brand influence through acquisitions and overseas channel development.
It is noteworthy that among the over 30 listed brands, the proportion of sportswear and functional apparel brands has increased significantly. Brands like Anta, Li-Ning, 361°, Xtep, and Toread have not only secured their position in the domestic market but also enhanced global recognition by sponsoring international events and signing overseas athletes.
Brand Awakening in the Upstream of the Chain
Traditionally, brand value was concentrated in end-consumer products, but this list includes raw material and chemical fiber manufacturers like Hengli, Weiqiao, Rongsheng Petrochemical, Sanfangxiang, and Tongkun. This marks a growing emphasis on brand building in the upstream of the chain. For buyers, choosing these branded suppliers means more stable quality, more transparent supply chains, and stronger risk resilience.
The home textiles segment also performed actively, with brands like Mengjie, Shuixing, and Luolai seizing growth opportunities in the home consumption upgrade through channel sinking and e-commerce operations. Cross-border brands like Pop Mart, although not traditionally in textiles, provide new growth ideas for the industry through IP licensing and derivative product development.