The Map of English Sportswear Brands
- English Sportswear Heritage: Britain's sportswear heritage is deeply rooted in the textile traditions of Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, Leicester, and Nottingham.
- Market Recovery: After a low point in 2013-14, the English sportswear market is showing modest recovery, with five teams wearing local brands in the 2025-2026 season.
- Regional Influence: The North West's textile identity continues to shape the sportswear landscape, while London is not important for the sportswear market.
The Premier League has never been more international, with only a quarter of clubs using English kit suppliers. Yet Britain's sportswear heritage runs deep, rooted in the textile traditions of Greater Manchester, Yorkshire, Leicester, and Nottingham. Italian sports channel NSS Sports has created a nice infographic of the English sports map.
English Sportswear Brands Map
Umbro dominated for decades as the quintessential UK supplier, while brands like Bukta and Admiral Sportswear thrived from the 1970s through the mid-1990s. The 1980s saw an explosion of short-lived brands, including Osca, Spall, Scoreline and Ellgren, followed by Matchwinner, Ribero and Super League in the early 1990s.
After hitting a low point in 2013-14 with just one Premier League club wearing an English brand, the market is showing modest recovery. In the 2025-2026 season, five teams wear local brands, but none of the big ones.
The North West's centuries-old textile identity, particularly in Greater Manchester and Cheshire, continues to shape the sportswear landscape. Meanwhile, London is not important at all for the sportswear market.
The Map of Italian Brands
NSS Sports has also created a map of Italian sportswear brands, showing an even distribution across the country.
Can English sportswear brands ever reclaim their place in the Premier League? Let us know in the comments below.
