Adidas, Nike and more brands are investing in Canada

Adidas, the world’s biggest sports apparel brand, said Wednesday it will invest $300 million in Calgary-based clothing manufacturer Tennis Clothing Co. to help it compete with U.S. brands.

Adidas is Canada’s largest clothing manufacturer, and has made inroads in the country with the launch of the Adidas Originals line in Canada last year.

Adidas Origins is aimed at younger consumers, as well as athletes who need to wear sportswear for longer than a week.

“Tennis is a great example of the type of high-end clothing brands that we want to be part of,” Adidas Chief Executive Officer Tomi-Ann Cheng said in a statement.

“We believe our customers are looking for high-quality, functional clothing that is durable and lightweight, and the best way to achieve this is to create innovative, sustainable clothing.”

The $300-million investment comes as Adidas is trying to establish itself as a leading global player in the apparel market.

Adidas had about $4.8 billion in sales last year and is valued at about $18 billion.

Adidas has also opened offices in other countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States and China.

Tennis is expected to employ about 1,000 people in the Calgary area.

Adidas said the $300M will be invested in a new headquarters in Calgary and will be used to create more sustainable clothing.