Columbia Sportswear is still headquartered in Portland, Oregon.
Its jackets, fleece, and footwear have not been sewn domestically in decades, though.
Today the brand relies on a wide network of overseas factories spread across several Asian countries.
Vietnam has become the single largest production country for Columbia.
Recent tariff policy has forced the company to rethink pricing and sourcing all over again heading into 2026.
Understanding where Columbia clothing is made means looking at its supply chain country by country, along with the trade pressures now reshaping it.
So let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Where Is Columbia Clothing Made?
Columbia clothing is made almost entirely overseas today, primarily in Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, and other Asian hubs.
The official Columbia Sportswear site, columbia.com, and independent reporting show Vietnam supplies roughly 40 percent of Columbia’s apparel and around a quarter of its footwear.
China contributes a similarly significant share of footwear.
Together Vietnam and China account for close to 95 percent of Columbia’s shoe manufacturing.
Columbia also sources from Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Thailand.
Who Owns Columbia?
Columbia Sportswear is a publicly traded company headquartered in Portland, Oregon.
It does not own the factories that make its products.
Instead it contracts production out to independently owned factories spread across Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, and several other countries.
Where Did Columbia Come From?
Columbia was founded in 1938 as a small Portland hat company.
It manufactured domestically for much of its early history.
Production shifted abroad as global sourcing became cheaper starting in the late twentieth century.
Why Does Columbia Source So Heavily From Vietnam and China?
Vietnam offers Columbia lower labor costs, growing manufacturing expertise, and a favorable trade environment compared with China.
Spreading production across several countries gives Columbia a hedge against tariff shocks concentrated in any single country.
That diversification strategy has become more important as trade policy has grown less predictable in recent years.
How Have Tariffs Affected Columbia’s Supply Chain?
Columbia pulled its full year 2025 financial guidance amid what CEO Tim Boyle called unprecedented policy uncertainty around trade.
The company estimated a broad 10 percent tariff increase would add roughly 35 to 40 million dollars in expenses during 2025.
Columbia has said it plans to raise US prices by a high single digit percentage in 2026.
Columbia vs The North Face: Who Makes Each?
The North Face is owned by VF Corporation.
Like Columbia, it relies almost entirely on overseas contract manufacturing, sourcing heavily from Vietnam, China, and other Asian countries.
Neither brand manufactures its core apparel domestically at any meaningful scale, which makes the two companies close mirrors of each other on the manufacturing side.
What Is Next for Columbia?
Columbia plans to raise US retail prices by a high single digit percentage in 2026 in direct response to tariff costs.
The company has not announced any plans to bring significant production back to the United States.
Instead it continues managing its existing overseas factory network, spreading orders across Vietnam, China, and several other countries to limit exposure to any single trade policy shift.
For more brand supply chain breakdowns like this one, see our guides on Levi’s and Ariat Boots.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where Columbia Clothing Is Made
Is Columbia clothing made in China?
Some of it is. Vietnam has overtaken China as Columbia’s largest manufacturing country, though China still produces a meaningful share of footwear.
Together Vietnam and China account for close to 95 percent of Columbia’s shoe manufacturing.
Does Columbia own its own factories?
No. Columbia does not own its own factories, contracting production instead to independently owned factories across Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, and other countries.
This is standard practice across most major outdoor and apparel brands.
Was Columbia always made overseas?
No. Columbia started out manufacturing domestically after its 1938 founding in Portland, Oregon.
Production shifted abroad over the following decades as global sourcing networks matured, and today almost none of its apparel is made in the United States.
How is Columbia responding to tariffs in 2026?
Columbia plans to raise US retail prices by a high single digit percentage in 2026 due to tariffs.
The company estimated that a broad 10 percent tariff increase would add roughly 35 to 40 million dollars in expenses during 2025 alone, a cost pressure that carries directly into its 2026 pricing decisions.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.