What: Made in China brands are exponentially growing and at-home competition is fierce.

Why it is important: Some of them are increasingly credible for overseas expansion. They might be a solution for department stores looking for an alternative to the big Western names going DTC.

In 1987, Ding Shizhong began transforming his family's small shoemaking business in Fujian, China into Anta, a major sportswear retailer. Anta grew rapidly, surpassing Adidas as China's second-largest sportswear brand with $7.8 billion in annual revenues. This growth was fueled by strategic acquisitions, including Fila's China rights and Finland’s Amer Sports.

However, Anta faces challenges with slowing growth in China and adapting to evolving sportswear trends. Financial pressures from a significant loan for the Amer Sports acquisition have led to plans for an IPO. Anta is responding to market shifts and increased competition by refining its product lines and adopting a direct-to-consumer retail model. Despite these hurdles, Anta remains a key player in the dynamic sportswear industry.

Nike challenger Anta faces fresh rivals in Chinese sportswear race