Luxe.CO has learned that five more niche sports and outdoor brands have recently entered the Chinese mainland market. They are:
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GOREWEAR, a cycling and running apparel brand under Gore
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Topologie, a mountaineering gear brand founded in Hong Kong
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Kolping, a South Korean camping and mountaineering equipment brand
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HIGH SIERRA, a U.S. hiking backpack brand under Samsonite
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KOLAB, a Hong Kong-based brand established just two years ago
Among them, GOREWEAR has opened its first store globally in Shanghai. Topologie’s first store in the Chinese mainland is still under wraps, but the brand previously tested the waters through pop-up stores. Kolping, HIGH SIERRA, and KOLAB have not yet opened physical stores, but all have launched official social media accounts and officially announced their entry into the Chinese mainland market.
GOREWEAR
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Country of origin: Germany
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Year founded: 1985
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Core categories: Cycling apparel, running apparel
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Price range: RMB 800–3000 [USD 110–415] for cycling apparel, RMB 300–1600 [USD 41–221] for running apparel
GOREWEAR was formed in 2018 from the merger of GORE BIKE WEAR and GORE RUNNING WEAR. The brand is headquartered in Germany and is a subsidiary of U.S.-based materials company W. L. Gore & Associates.
The brand’s origins date back to 1985, when a team of German product developers created the first cycling jacket made with breathable and waterproof GORE-TEX fabric, which led to the founding of GORE BIKE WEAR.
Building on its parent company’s expertise in material technology, GOREWEAR focuses on providing high-performance gear for outdoor enthusiasts in cycling and running, using advanced GORE-TEX fabrics. In 2020, it was voted “Best Cycling Apparel Brand” by readers of Germany’s RoadBike Magazine.
In June 2024, GOREWEAR launched official WeChat and Xiaohongshu accounts to engage with Chinese consumers online. Although it has not yet opened a dedicated Tmall flagship store, its products are available in the Gore flagship store.
In mid-May 2024, GOREWEAR opened its first store globally at 457 Jumen Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, offering gear tailored for both cycling and running.
Topologie
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Country of origin: Hong Kong
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Year founded: 2018
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Core categories: Bags, straps
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Bag price range: RMB 350–1300 [USD 48–180]
Topologie was founded in 2018 by Carlos Granon of France and Go Urano of Japan, two childhood friends and climbing enthusiasts, who wanted to create climbing gear that combines aesthetics and functionality.
The brand’s first product was a climbing rope, and it later expanded into bags that fuse Gorpcore and Techwear styles.
In 2021, Topologie adopted “co-design” as its brand philosophy and launched the Topologie Wares System™, a collaborative platform through which all subsequent products have been co-created with external brands or designers.
This co-design concept also extends to Topologie’s retail stores, where customers are offered a fully customizable experience, allowing them to freely mix and match their own combinations of bags and straps.
Today, Topologie operates 21 stores worldwide. Available data shows that in 2022, the brand achieved global revenue of EUR 17 million.
Above: Topologie’s Paris store
In September 2021, Topologie launched an official Xiaohongshu account, followed by a Tmall overseas flagship store. In August 2024, the brand opened an official WeChat account.
In September 2024, Topologie debuted its first Chinese mainland pop-up store at Jing’an Kerry Centre in Shanghai. At the end of April this year, it opened a second pop-up store at Grand Gateway 66 in Shanghai.
Topologie’s first official store in the Chinese mainland is currently under wraps at iapm Mall in Shanghai, and is expected to open in May.
Kolping
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Country of origin: South Korea
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Year founded: 1983
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Core categories: Camping gear, mountaineering equipment
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Camping product price range: RMB 1,000–7,000 [USD 138–970]
Since its founding in 1983, Kolping has been dedicated to providing comprehensive and practical outdoor solutions for hiking and mountaineering enthusiasts. In its early years, the company primarily exported OEM tents and backpacks to Europe and North America, with export sales reaching USD 10,000 in 1995.
In 2009, Kolping made its first appearance in China by participating in the Nanjing Outdoor Brand Exhibition. It later joined ISPO Beijing and ISPO Shanghai in 2015 and, in the same year, established a Chinese subsidiary in Liyang, Jiangsu Province to manage local production.
This year, Kolping officially announced its entry into the Chinese market and launched its official WeChat and Xiaohongshu accounts in February.
HIGH SIERRA
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Country of origin: United States
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Year founded: 1978
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Core category: Hiking backpacks
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Backpack price range: RMB 200–1300 [USD 28–180]
HIGH SIERRA traces its roots to 1978, when Harry and Hank Bernbaum, a father-son duo, established Bernbaum Import & Export Company in Chicago. In the 1980s, the company launched a line of canvas bags, benefiting from a nationwide surge in sports and outdoor fashion in the U.S.
In 1979, inspired by the film High Sierra, Hank’s wife suggested the name conveyed the adventurous spirit of their backpacks and travel gear. That same year, they registered the HIGH SIERRA brand.
The company grew rapidly in the U.S. market by producing stylish, durable, and affordable backpacks, luggage, and gear for camping and trekking.
In 2012, Samsonite, the American luggage giant, acquired HIGH SIERRA from the Bernbaum family for USD 111 million, paving the way for the brand’s global expansion.
At the end of March 2024, HIGH SIERRA launched its official WeChat and Xiaohongshu accounts and officially announced its entry into the Chinese market. On May 8, the brand held an offline launch event in China.
KOLAB
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Country of origin: Hong Kong
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Year founded: 2023
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Core category: Shell jackets
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Shell jacket price range: RMB 80–200 [USD 11–28]
KOLAB was founded in 2023 by Paul Ng, a Chinese entrepreneur whose extensive travel experiences inspired him to create a clothing brand that seamlessly blends functionality with fashion aesthetics.
A standout feature of KOLAB is its integration of NFC technology—every garment is embedded with a KOLAB Info Tag. By tapping their smartphone’s rear camera area on the tag, users can access information about the product’s authenticity and origin.
On May 14, KOLAB launched its official Xiaohongshu account and announced its entry into the Chinese mainland market.
Luxe.CO has published two consecutive editions of the Luxe.CO Sports and Outdoor Brands Power Ranking, evaluating over 200 sports and outdoor brands based on five key dimensions: retail presence, marketing communication, experiential scenarios, design innovation, and women’s business development.
The second edition of the ranking has just been released. Click the link below to discover the full list of top brands and related business cases featured in the latest edition.
Major Announcement | Second Edition of the Luxe.CO Sports and Outdoor Brands Power Ranking: Top List Revealed
| Image Credit: Official brand Instagram accounts
| Editor: Zhu Ruoyu
