In China, Only Sportwear Makers Can Compete With Global Apparel Leaders, Anta Boss Asserts

China has a lot of brands seeking to compete in the international apparel and clothing?business?today, but it?s only the country?s sportswear companies that have the ability to?go head-to-head with?global apparel-industry heavyweights.

So says Ding Shizhong, chairman of Anta Sports, one of the country?s most successful sports footwear and apparel brands.?? When it comes to obtaining endorsements, shops, and supply-chain management, ?domestic brands are basically on the same level with international brands,? according to Ding, who ranked at No. 179 on the 2011 Forbes China Rich List with wealth of $885 million.

? ?I dare to say, in China?s apparel and clothing industries, only sports products are truly able to compete with the world?s big crocodiles,? Ding said in an interview published today in the 21^st Century Business Herald, a Chinese daily newspaper. 21^st Century is partly owned by Fosun Group; Fosun Media is a licensing partner of Forbes Media. ??

Anta?competes in China with Nike, Adidas and other global brands.??

Yet Ding?s Anta hasn?t been able to escape a downturn affecting China?s sporting goods industry this year. Anta?s Hong Kong-traded shares are down by more than 40%.

The company said on May 17 business during the first quarter at stores that had been open for more than a year fell by a ?low single-digit percentage? from a year earlier, and that orders for the fourth quarter of this year obtained at a trade fair held in April declined by a ?low teens? percentage. ??Anta?s sales last year climbed by 20% to 8.9 billion yuan, or $1.4 billion.

?? with Maggie Chen

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