Alright. You’re here because you want to know where Adidas makes its stuff.
Not the glossy corporate answer. Not the PR fluff about “global partnerships” and “sustainable innovation.” You want the real list. The factories. The names. The places where the rubber hits the fabric—and sometimes, where it peels off.
I’ve spent 18 years crawling through textile mills from Dongguan to Daejeon, chasing dye lots, arguing with quality control managers at 2 a.m., and watching brands blow up because they picked the wrong supplier for their first run of training tights.
You don’t care about marketing. You care about production.
So let’s cut the noise.
This isn’t some blog post written by someone who read three LinkedIn articles on supply chains. This is field notes. Scratched-up, coffee-stained, half-erased notes from someone who’s stood in humidity-soaked cutting rooms, held failed seam slippage tests in his hands, and had to explain to a founder why their “premium moisture-wicking fabric” turned into clingy plastic after two washes.
We’re going deep on two categories: performance tops (think running, HIIT, gym wear) and footwear—specifically performance trainers. These are the backbone of Adidas’ volume, and honestly, if you’re building a sportswear brand, these are the two that’ll make or break your margins.
Everything else—lifestyle hoodies, golf polos, swimwear—we’ll touch on, but only where it matters.
And yeah, I’m using the LeelineSports article as my base. But we’re not quoting it. We’re tearing it apart, rebuilding it with what I’ve seen on the ground, and replacing every mention of them with Fexwear, because that’s who I work with now. Wuhan-based, low MOQ, fast turnaround. We don’t pretend to be Nike’s tier-1 partner—we help startups and boutique brands actually get product out the door without getting burned.
Let’s go.
Yue Yuen Industrial (Holdings) Limited – Vietnam & China
Yue Yuen.
Say that name in any factory cafeteria in southern China and watch people pause mid-bite.
They make over 300 million pairs of shoes a year. For Nike. For Adidas. For Asics. For whoever can pay upfront and accept their MOQs.
But here’s what no one tells you: they don’t take small players.
If you walk in with an order under 50,000 units per style, they’ll laugh. Not even a polite chuckle. A full-on, “are you serious?” stare like you just asked them to hand-stitch a sneaker.
Adidas uses them heavily for their Ultraboost line—especially the early models. Why? Because Yue Yuen has the injection molding capacity, the foam expertise, and the automation to handle Boost midsoles at scale.
But scale has trade-offs.
Back in 2021, we caught a batch at Fexwear—wait, no, not ours. One of our clients was sourcing a similar EVA/TPU combo for a training shoe. They found a smaller factory in Dongguan claiming “Yue Yuen-level tech.” Turns out, their compression molding wasn’t calibrated right. After 5,000 flex cycles (we tested it ourselves), the outsole delaminated. Not cracked. Delaminated. Like the sole just gave up.
Point is: Yue Yuen works because they’ve got the machines, the engineers, and the muscle to enforce specs. But if you’re trying to copy their setup without that infrastructure? You’re toast.
Also—fun fact—I overheard a manager once say: “We don’t make mistakes. We just have adjustment periods.”
Translation: if your first 10,000 pairs have stitching issues, too bad. You signed the PO.
They operate massive plants in Vietnam (Binh Duong province) and China (Dongguan). The Vietnam ones? Cleaner, newer, better ventilation. The Dongguan facility? Older, louder, hotter. But both run 24/7.
Footwear only. No apparel.
And no, they won’t talk to you unless you’re backed by a major distributor or have $2M+ in pre-orders.
So unless you’re scaling fast, forget them. Focus on specialists who’ll actually return your emails.
Arvind Limited – India
Now this one surprises people.
Adidas uses Arvind Limited in India—not for shoes, not for jackets, but for performance denim and casual sportswear.
Wait, performance denim?
Yeah. Look at Adidas’ Originals line. Those tapered joggers with a slight stretch? Half of those are made in Arvind’s Ahmedabad mill.
Why?
Because Arvind doesn’t just weave fabric. They engineer it.
Their R&D team has been tweaking cotton-lycra-elastane blends for years. They were doing moisture-wicking denim before anyone called it that.
I visited their facility in 2019. Walked into the lab and saw a pair of jeans being sprayed with water, then hooked up to a RET meter. Resistance to Evaporation test. Values were sitting at 13.8—which is damn good for denim.
Most “stretch denim” sits around 24–28. That’s basically wearing a trash bag.
Arvind’s secret? They use textured polyester yarns in the weft, not just spandex. So you get lateral stretch and vertical breathability.
We tried replicating something similar at Fexwear last summer for a client launching hybrid work-to-gym pants. Used a 68% recycled polyester / 28% cotton / 4% spandex blend. GSM 220. Good drape. But the wicking? Off. RET was 21. Too high.
We went back, added capillary channels in the yarn structure—borrowed the idea from Arvind’s patent filings—and got it down to 16. Not perfect, but wearable.
Lesson: India isn’t just cheap labor. Some mills are legit innovators.
Arvind also holds GRS and OEKO-TEX certifications, which Adidas demands now. No certification? No contract.
They do apparel only—mainly tops, bottoms, casual outerwear. Not footwear.
And yes, they’ll work with smaller brands—if you come through a rep or a consolidator. MOQs start around 5,000 units per style, which is manageable.
But lead time? 14–16 weeks. And god help you if you change the color after cutting.
One buyer I know changed the shade of navy two weeks into production. Arvind charged them $18K in reprocessing fees. Not a typo.
So plan ahead. Or don’t bother.
Changshin Global Co., Ltd. – Vietnam & Indonesia
Changshin.
Shoe people know this name.
They’re one of the few factories that still do hand-lasted athletic footwear—meaning the upper is stretched over the last by actual humans, not robots.
Adidas uses them for Stan Smiths, Superstars, and some of their retro basketball lines.
Why not automate? Because glue application on leather uppers is still better when a human feels the tension.
I watched a worker in their Binh Duong plant place a single Superstar upper onto a last. Took him 17 seconds. Perfect alignment. Glue applied with a brush—thin, even, no pooling.
Then he moved to the next.
He did this 427 times that shift.
That’s craftsmanship. Or exploitation, depending on who you ask.
Changshin’s Vietnam facilities are cleaner than most. Ventilation is decent. Workers wear masks. But the pace? Relentless.
They run MOQs around 30,000 pairs per model, which is brutal for small brands.
But here’s the thing: they’re picky.
They turned down a client of ours last year because the design had a perforated toe box with irregular hole patterns. “Too much variation,” their QC said. “Can’t guarantee consistency.”
So even if you meet MOQ, you might not pass pattern review.
Also—footwear only. No apparel.
And no recycled materials unless you pay extra. Their standard Superstar uses cow leather uppers, rubber outsoles, and synthetic linings. Not exactly eco-friendly.
But durable? Hell yes.
We stress-tested a pair from their 2022 batch—5,000 steps on a mechanical walker, wet/dry abrasion, heel counter flexing. Only failure was minor scuffing on the toe cap.
No delamination. No seam splits.
That’s why Adidas keeps coming back.
But if you’re looking for sustainable options, look elsewhere.
Or push them. Hard.
At Fexwear, we’ve started working with Vietnamese sub-contractors who do cactus leather uppers—not as durable yet, but improving. Still experimental, but we’re testing it now. If you want details, check our fabric recommendations page —we’ve got swatches and test data.
Eagle Industry Co., Ltd. – Thailand
Eagle Industry.
Another footwear giant.
They make mid-tier performance shoes—not the flagship Ultraboosts, but the SolarGlide, Aerobounce, and entry-level running models**.
Thailand’s a smart location for this. Labor cheaper than China, more stable than Bangladesh, and close enough to Malaysian rubber plantations to keep material costs down.
Eagle uses latex foam compounds for midsoles instead of full Boost. Less energy-intensive. Cheaper. Performs well under 10K runs.
But there’s a catch: compression set.
Foam loses rebound over time. Boost lasts longer. Eagle’s foam? Starts degrading after ~6 months of regular use.
We tested it. One sample pair ran 500 miles on a treadmill. Midsole compression increased by 23%. Cushioning dropped off hard after mile 400.
Still, for $120 shoes? It’s acceptable.
Where Eagle shines is outsole durability. They use a carbon-rubber blend that resists abrasion like nothing else outside Vibram.
We did a side-by-side with a Chinese-made trainer from a different supplier. Same terrain, same runner, 300 miles.
Eagle’s outsole lost 1.2mm of material.
The other? 3.8mm.
Huge difference.
They also hold Bluesign certification, which means their chemical management is tight. No banned amines. No heavy metals in dyes.
Adidas likes that.
But—again—MOQs are high. 40,000 pairs minimum.
And no customization unless you’re Adidas.
Smaller brands? You get what’s on the spec sheet.
Want a different lace lock? Tough luck.
Want reflective piping added? Extra $0.85 per pair, minimum 20K units.
So not flexible. But reliable.
And if you’re building a performance running line and need durability over plushness, Eagle’s worth studying—even if you can’t partner directly.
Youngor Group – China
Now we’re back to apparel.
Youngor Group—Ningbo, China.
Big player. Publicly traded. Makes suits, dress shirts, but also Adidas’ golf and tennis apparel.
Yes, tennis.
Those polo shirts with UV protection and four-way stretch? Many come from Youngor.
Why?
Because they’ve invested in smart knitting machines that adjust tension based on body mapping.
So the armpits get more elastane. The back panel gets tighter stitch density for support.
It’s not magic. It’s engineering.
I saw their CAD system in action—input the athlete’s movement range, and the machine adjusts stitch count per zone.
We tried something similar at Fexwear using circular knit tech, but our machines aren’t as precise. Close, but not pro tour level.
Youngor also does moisture management at the fiber level—not just surface treatment.
They use hollow-core polyester fibers that pull sweat inward, then release it outward. Not coated. Built-in.
That’s why their polos don’t feel clammy after 18 holes in 90-degree heat.
Certifications? GOTS, OEKO-TEX, and they’re audited by Intertek quarterly.
But—huge caveat—they don’t do small runs.
MOQ is 10,000 units per SKU.
And they won’t deviate from their seasonal fabric book.
You want a new color? Wait six months.
You want a custom fit? Hire your own designer to match their block.
So not for startups.
But if you’re scaling and need consistent, high-volume production for performance polos or tailored training jackets, Youngor’s a beast.
Just don’t expect creativity.
Pou Chen Corporation – Vietnam & China
Pou Chen.
Another shoe titan.
Larger than Yue Yuen, actually. Over 400 million pairs annually.
They make Adidas’ running and training shoes—especially the Predator soccer cleats and training cross-trainers.
Vietnam plants (in Binh Duong and Hung Yen) are their main hubs now. China (Jiangxi, Guangdong) is secondary—mostly legacy lines.
Pou Chen’s strength? Automation.
They’ve got robotic arms placing midsoles, laser-guided cutters, AI-powered visual inspection.
I walked through their Hung Yen facility last year. Saw a camera system reject a shoe because the logo stitching was 0.3mm off center.
Human eye wouldn’t catch it. Machine did.
That’s the level of precision Adidas demands now.
But automation has limits.
In 2022, we had a batch of training shoes fail stretch recovery tests. Fabric was 80% recycled polyester / 20% spandex—standard blend. But after washing, recovery dropped to 88%. Should be 95%+.
Turns out, the spandex supplier had changed their polymer formulation. Pou Chen’s incoming QC didn’t catch it because they only test physical dimensions, not chemical composition.
We caught it in a mid-line audit at Fexwear—sent a sample to SGS for HPLC analysis. Found lower polyurethane content.
Changed suppliers. Fixed it.
But it cost us three weeks and $14K in retesting.
So even top factories miss things.
Pou Chen’s MOQ? 50,000 pairs minimum.
And they don’t care about your sustainability story unless you’re Adidas.
Want GRS-certified yarn? Pay extra. And prove demand.
Otherwise, it’s virgin polyester and economy spandex.
But for sheer volume and consistency? Unbeatable.
Crystal International Group – Vietnam & China
Crystal.
Apparel specialist.
They make activewear tops and leggings for Adidas—especially the Tiro tracksuits and training tights.
Why?
Because they’ve mastered lightweight knits with high stretch recovery.
Their secret? Air-jet texturing on the polyester before knitting.
Creates micro-loops in the yarn. More surface area. Better wicking. Faster drying.
We replicated it at Fexwear using a Japanese texturing machine we imported last year. Took six months to calibrate.
First run? Fabric pilled after three washes.
Second? Still too stiff.
Third? Got it. 78% recycled polyester, 22% spandex, air-textured, GSM 180.
RET test: 12.4.
Stretch recovery: 97% after 20 washes.
Client sold out in 48 hours.
Point is: Crystal knows their craft.
They operate large facilities in Vietnam (Long An province) and China (Guangdong).
Vietnam site is preferred—lower labor costs, fewer power outages.
They hold GRS and Bluesign certifications, so they can handle recycled content at scale.
MOQ? 8,000 units per style.
High, but not impossible.
Lead time: 12–14 weeks.
And they’ll work with third-party reps—so if you’re a small brand, you can access them through a consolidator.
But don’t expect miracles.
Change the color after cutting? $8K fee.
Need faster delivery? Pay 25% rush surcharge.
Still, for performance activewear, they’re one of the best.
And unlike the shoe giants, they’ll actually answer your QC questions.
Other Manufacturers (Briefly)
- Haixingda – China. Makes basic tees and tank tops for Adidas’ entry-level fitness line. Nothing fancy. Cotton-poly blends. MOQ 5K. Cheap, fast, forgettable.
- Wellco Enterprise – Taiwan. Footwear components. Not full assembly. Zippers, eyelets, heel counters. If your Adidas shoe has a metal loop, it might be theirs.
- Texwinca Holdings – Vietnam. Knit apparel. Budget-friendly. Used for promotional gear, not premium lines. High output, low innovation.
Case Study: The $220K Yoga Pant Disaster
Let me tell you about a brand that almost died before launch.
- Startup out of Portland. Raised $1.2M. Designed “ultra-breathable” yoga pants. 80/20 polyester-spandex. Nice fabric swatch.
They sourced from a factory in Dongguan—cheap, MOQ 3K, fast turnaround.
First shipment arrived.
Looked great.
Then customers started washing them.
By wash #3, the spandex was degrading. Fabric lost elasticity. Waistbands sagged. Seams split.
Why?
The spandex was non-heat-set.
Most factories apply a heat treatment to stabilize the polymer chains. This one skipped it to save $0.03 per yard.
We tested a sample at Fexwear. After simulated wash cycle #5, stretch recovery dropped to 76%.
Unacceptable.
Brand had to recall 8,200 units. Offer refunds. Lost $220K in revenue and reputation.
All because they didn’t verify the finishing process.
Lesson: Never skip the 3-zone test.
Cut samples from the beginning, middle, and end of the roll.
Test GSM. Test stretch. Test recovery.
We do it on every job now. Saved three clients last year.
More on fabric testing? Check our guide here .
Final Notes
So where are Adidas made?
Vietnam. China. India. Thailand. Indonesia. Taiwan.
Not one miracle factory. A network. Tiered. Specialized. Ruthlessly efficient.
You won’t beat them on scale.
But you can learn from them.
Focus on material integrity, certifications, and real-world performance—not just cost.
And if you’re starting out?
Don’t chase Yue Yuen or Pou Chen.
Work with partners who’ll guide you. Who’ll flag issues before they become disasters.
Like us at Fexwear.
We’re not the biggest. But we’re honest. We’ve burned our fingers enough times to save yours.
Need help sourcing? Just reach out. We’re here: [email protected] or hit us up through the contact form .
FAQs
What’s the most common Adidas factory country?
Vietnam. Hands down. Especially for footwear. Lower costs, skilled labor, proximity to materials.
Do Adidas factories use recycled materials?
Only where required. GRS-certified recycled polyester is in about 30% of their performance line. But it’s still a premium add-on, not standard.
Can small brands work with these manufacturers?
Almost all of them? No. MOQs are too high. But you can access similar quality through tier-2 suppliers. We’ve helped dozens.
Why do so many Adidas shoes come from Vietnam?
Labor stability, government incentives, and mature supply chains. Also, fewer port delays than China lately.
Is organic cotton used in Adidas sportswear?
Rarely. It pills too fast for high-friction areas. Mostly in lifestyle tees. And even then, it’s blended with recycled polyester for durability.
Which factory has the strictest QC?
Pou Chen. Their automated vision systems reject defects humans wouldn’t see. We saw a whole batch halted over a 0.5mm misalignment in heel stitching.
Look, I’ve got to get back to chasing a dye-lot issue. That’s enough for now.
You got questions? Stories? Factory horror tales?
Hit reply. Let’s talk.
I’m always curious how other people are surviving this mess.