Recently, five niche outdoor and sports brands have made their way into mainland China, namely:
- GOREWEAR: A cycling and running apparel brand under Gore (known for GORE-TEX technology)
- Topologie: A Hong Kong-born mountaineering gear label
- Kolping: A South Korean camping and hiking equipment brand
- HIGH SIERRA: An American mountaineering backpack brand owned by Samsonite
- KOLAB: A two-year-old emerging brand from Hong Kong
Among them, GOREWEAR has already opened its first global flagship store in Shanghai. Topologie’s debut mainland China location is still under construction, though the brand previously tested the market through pop-up stores. While Kolping, HIGH SIERRA, and KOLAB haven’t yet established physical stores, they have launched official social media accounts to announce their entry into the Chinese mainland market.
GOREWEAR
Origin: Germany
Established: 1985
Core Categories: Cycling apparel, running apparel
Price Range: ¥800–¥3,000 (cycling), ¥300–¥1,600 (running)
GOREWEAR was formed in 2018 through the merger of GORE BIKE WEAR and GORE RUNNING WEAR. Headquartered in Germany, it operates under the umbrella of W. L. Gore & Associates, a U.S.-based materials company.
The brand’s origins date back to 1985, when a German product development team created the first cycling jacket using breathable, waterproof GORE-TEX fabric, marking the birth of GORE BIKE WEAR. Leveraging its parent company’s expertise in fabric technology, GOREWEAR specializes in high-performance apparel for outdoor enthusiasts, particularly cyclists and runners, utilizing advanced GORE-TEX materials. In 2020, it was voted Best Cycling Apparel Brand by readers of Germany’s Road Bike Magazine.
In June 2024, GOREWEAR launched official accounts on WeChat and Xiaohongshu to engage with Chinese consumers online. Currently, the brand does not operate a standalone Tmall flagship store; its products are sold through the Gore flagship store.
In mid-May this year, GOREWEAR opened its first global physical store in Shanghai’s Huangpu District at 457 Jumen Road, offering a range of products tailored for cycling and running.
Topologie
Origin: Hong Kong, China
Established: 2018
Core Categories: Bags, Lanyards
Price Range for Bags: ¥350-¥1300
Founded in 2018 by French and Japanese rock climbing enthusiasts Carlos Granon and Go Urano—childhood friends who shared a vision—Topologie creates climbing gear that blends aesthetics with functionality.
The brand debuted with a climbing rope before expanding into bags that fuse Gorpcore and Techwear styles.
In 2021, Topologie adopted co-design as its core philosophy through the Topologie Wares System™ collaborative framework. Since then, every product has been developed in partnership with external brands or designers. This collaborative approach extends to retail, where customers can customize their own bag and lanyard combinations in-store.
Currently operating 21 global stores, Topologie reported €17 million in worldwide revenue for 2022.
The brand launched its Xiaohongshu account in September 2021, followed by a Tmall Global flagship store. Its official WeChat account debuted in August 2024.
Topologie marked its Mainland China entry with a September 2024 pop-up at Shanghai’s Jing’an Kerry Centre, followed by a second location at Hong Kong Plaza in April 2025. The brand’s first permanent Mainland store is now under construction at Shanghai’s IAPM Mall, scheduled to open in May.
Kolping
Country: South Korea
Established: 1983
Core product categories: Camping gear, mountaineering equipment
Camping product price range: ¥1,000-7,000
Since its founding in 1983, Kolping has dedicated itself to developing practical, comprehensive outdoor solutions for hiking and mountaineering enthusiasts. In its early years, the company primarily manufactured OEM tents and backpacks for export to European and American markets, achieving $10,000 in export sales by 1995.
Kolping first entered the Chinese market in 2009 by participating in the Nanjing Outdoor Brands Exhibition. The company later exhibited at both ISPO Beijing and Shanghai shows in 2015, the same year it established its Chinese subsidiary in Liyang, Jiangsu province to oversee local production.
This year marks Kolping’s formal launch in China, with the company opening official WeChat and Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) accounts in February to strengthen its market presence.
HIGH SIERRA
Country: United States
Year Established: 1978
Core Product Category: Hiking Backpacks
Price Range: 200–1300 RMB
In 1978, father and son Harry and Hank Bernbaum founded Bernbaum Import & Export Company in Chicago, the predecessor of the HIGH SIERRA brand. During the 1980s, the company launched a line of canvas bags, and the rising sports trend in the U.S. boosted sales.
In 1979, when the movie HIGH SIERRA was released, Hank’s wife believed the name perfectly captured the adventurous spirit of the backpacks and travel bags her husband produced. That same year, they officially registered the HIGH SIERRA brand name.
By producing affordable, stylish, and durable backpacks, luggage, and camping/hiking gear, HIGH SIERRA thrived in the U.S. market.
In 2012, American luggage brand Samsonite acquired HIGH SIERRA from Hank and his wife for $111 million, marking the beginning of the brand’s global expansion.
In late March this year, HIGH SIERRA launched official accounts on WeChat and Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), announcing its entry into the Chinese market. On May 8, the brand held an offline launch event in China.
KOLAB
Country/Region: Hong Kong, China
Year Established: 2023
Core Product Category: Jackets
Price Range: 80–200 RMB
Founded in 2023 by Chinese entrepreneur Paul Ng, KOLAB was born out of the founder’s extensive travel experiences. His vision was to create a clothing brand that seamlessly blends functionality with fashion aesthetics.
A standout feature of KOLAB is its use of NFC technology. Each garment is embedded with an information tag called KOLAB Info Tags. By simply tapping the tag with the back camera area of a smartphone, users can verify the product’s authenticity and trace its origins.
On May 14, KOLAB launched its official Xiaohongshu account, officially announcing its entry into the mainland China market.
