Imagine pulling on your favorite hoodie or lacing up your sneakers, not even thinking about it. Sportswear is everywhere—at school pick-ups, at the gym, and even in coffee shops. But did you ever stop and wonder which brand started it all? There’s a brand much older than you’d guess, with roots so deep it takes you back to a world without Instagram, TV, or even the word “sportswear” itself. This is not just about logos and trendy fabrics. We’re talking about a legacy that wove itself into modern style nearly 150 years ago and shaped the way we move, work, and play—sometimes without us even realizing it. Get ready, because there’s drama, innovation, and even a dash of royal intrigue.
The Oldest Sportswear Brand: Umbro, Brooks, or…?
Start poking around and you’ll find names like Nike and Adidas, often thrown around as giants in athletic gear. Plenty of people assume they must be the oldest. Here’s the shocker: neither holds the crown. The real winner is not as heavily marketed, but it’s seen more action than you could possibly count. We’re talking track teams, tennis courts, Olympic podiums, even battlefield trenches. The oldest sportswear brand that’s still around today is Brooks, founded in 1914 in Philadelphia. But wait—if you’re thinking, "1914 doesn’t sound super ancient," there’s more. An even older contender lurks further back: J. W. Foster and Sons, the parent company behind what we know as Reebok, dates right back to 1895.
But if you really want to split hairs and go to the roots, you have to jump to a lesser-known name outside the U.S. Le Coq Sportif, a French company, began all the way in 1882. And then, there’s Dunlop, the British rubber shoe and sporting goods company founded in 1889. If you dig for truly ancient roots, you’ll stumble on the legendary Spalding in the United States (1876), the inventor of the modern baseball and high-performance basketball. Spalding’s focus was more on sports equipment than apparel, but over time, lines blurred as brands expanded into clothing. Let’s check when these brands appeared with a simple table:
| Brand | Year Founded | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Spalding | 1876 | USA |
| Le Coq Sportif | 1882 | France |
| Dunlop | 1889 | UK |
| J. W. Foster & Sons (Reebok) | 1895 | UK |
| Brooks | 1914 | USA |
| Umbro | 1924 | UK |
| Adidas | 1949 | Germany |
| Nike | 1964 | USA |
| Puma | 1948 | Germany |
So here’s the twist—depending on what you call “sportswear,” Spalding is the oldest established name, with Le Coq Sportif following close behind for actual clothing. Most experts these days pin the title on Le Coq Sportif as the oldest full-on sportswear brand.
The Evolution: From Stitching Wool to High-Tech Fibers
Back in the late 1800s, sportswear was hardly what we think of now—there was little room for comfort or high performance. The first-ever Le Coq Sportif button-up jerseys weren’t targeted at everyday people like you and me, but at serious athletes in clubs, footballers, and even cycle racers riding wooden bikes. In those days, performance clothing meant basics: wool for warmth, thick cotton for durability, and everything was made to last. Imagine running a marathon in a heavy wool jumper; not exactly what today’s marathoners would choose!
Technology started creeping in slowly. By World War I, brands like Brooks were using their expertise in crafting ballet slippers to get into running shoes and swimwear. Dunlop introduced the first canvas tennis shoes with rubber soles—kind of the prototype to our modern sneakers. These changes might seem basic, but at the time, they were like rocket science.
As more people joined club sports, brands like Umbro and Le Coq Sportif began to see the value in uniforms. Le Coq Sportif provided the French cycling team’s first official jersey in the 1930s, marking a shift where sportswear wasn’t just for function, but also identity and pride. Fast forward to the 1960s, and synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester began changing the game. Athletes could finally stay cool and dry. It wasn’t just about men either—women’s sportswear started making real progress as the running craze and team sports for females went mainstream, especially in the U.S. by the 1970s.
Materials kept evolving—meshes for breathability, blends for stretch, wicking technology to beat sweat, and eventually, eco-friendly fabrics recycled from bottles or plant fibers. Even the way we shop for sportswear changed; now you choose gear targeted to your sport, body type, and even climate.
Iconic Moments: When Sportswear Shaped History
Some brands launched gear that literally changed the world. Think about Jesse Owens at the 1936 Berlin Games, sprinting into history wearing Dassler shoes (the family who later founded Adidas and Puma). Or the French football team’s stunning World Cup win in 1998, rocking crisp Le Coq Sportif uniforms. Athletes shaped pop culture too—Billie Jean King’s headband, Michael Jordan’s Air Jordans, Serena Williams breaking mold after mold with her bold looks on court.
There are wild, random facts, too. Le Coq Sportif once produced jerseys for every major French cycling team and even clothed the King of Spain. The first sneakers to use a zipper instead of laces? Brooks did it in the 1920s! During World War II, Brooks made military boots and parachutes. Puma and Adidas’s rivalry turned a sleepy German town into the unofficial sneaker capital of the world—Herzogenaurach. My own kids, Milo and Aria, have more options for their weekend soccer than I ever dreamed of at their age. It’s mind-blowing to think it all started with wool jerseys and a handful of family-owned workshops.
Sponsorship deals have powered the industry and pushed brands into global pop culture. Nike’s Swoosh, designed for $35 in 1971, is now one of the most recognizable logos. Adidas brought the classic three stripes to generations of athletes, and Umbro still kits out English football squads. But if you’re scanning for heritage, that little rooster logo from Le Coq Sportif just keeps popping up, from Wimbledon’s grass courts to the Tour de France podium. Legends like Arthur Ashe and Yannick Noah wore Le Coq Sportif during career-defining wins. These iconic moments sealed sportswear’s status far beyond the sidelines—right into streetwear and luxury fashion.
Tips for Spotting Authentic Sportswear Heritage
Maybe you love scoring old-school pieces at thrift shops or you’re on the hunt for a one-of-a-kind retro look. Here are some straight-up tips to know if the gear you’re eyeing comes from a true heritage brand, or just from a copycat:
- Look at the label: Original Le Coq Sportif, Brooks, and Spalding tags feel heavier and have precise stitching—no loose ends or basic fonts.
- Check the logo style: Heritage brands evolve logos, but originals (like the early leaping rooster or Dunlop’s laurel wreath) will stand out versus modern knock-offs.
- Feel for the fabric: Early pieces used wool, leather, or canvas—if it’s thin, plasticky, or way stretchy, it’s probably modern.
- Research the release: Sites like VintageSportswear.com (not affiliated!) or even eBay forums offer clues—if the design matches a championship year, you might have a real find.
- Look for serial numbers: Some premium gear (Adidas, Puma, etc.) from the 1980s and after had stitched codes—these can help track rarity.
If you want to invest in classic sportswear, try checking local vintage stores or authenticated resellers. Avoid those too-good-to-be-true sales popping up in your feed—they’re often fakes. Go for gear that celebrates the brand’s history: special edition re-issues, anniversary jerseys, or collabs that partner the old with the new (like Brooks x Olympic designs).
If you want to style up a vintage look, don’t be afraid to mix and match modern sneakers with throwback track jackets, or show off an old-school Spalding jersey when you hit the courts. My wife Hannah snagged a pair of classic Dunlop tennis shoes last summer, and she says nothing feels more comfortable while chasing after our kids than gear with heritage behind it.
At the end of the day, when you slip into a piece from the oldest sportswear brands, you’re not just getting style. You’re joining a movement that’s spanned generations. It’s something my kids are starting to catch onto even when all they’re doing is running around the backyard—sometimes history is right under your nose, or on your feet!
