Brandwave

Cotton On vs Kathmandu:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Cotton On had more branded searches than Kathmandu among cargo pants brands in New Zealand. Cotton On had about 193,000 branded searches, while Kathmandu had 57,600. Cotton On made up 69.4% of all cargo pants brand searches we track, and Kathmandu accounted for 20.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cargo pants brands, Kathmandu appeared in four of the five answers and Cotton On in three. Kathmandu was mentioned before Cotton On in four out of five answers.

Among cargo pants brands in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Cotton On, about 3 searches for every 1 for Kathmandu

Cotton On 193K searchesKathmandu 57.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Kathmandu, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Cotton On in 3

Kathmandu in 4 of 5Cotton On in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Kathmandu, named ahead of Cotton On in 4 of 5 answers

Kathmandu first in 4Cotton On first in 1

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Top cargo pants brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kathmandu was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Cotton On was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Kathmandu was listed before Cotton On in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Dickies1st
  2. Kathmandu2nd
  3. I Love Ugly3rd
  4. Cotton On4th
  5. Hard Yakka5th
  6. Levi's–
  7. Lee–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Kathmandu4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Cotton On3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • I Love Ugly3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Dickies3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Hard Yakka2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Levi's0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Lee0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about cargo pants brands

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.

Is Cotton On or Kathmandu more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Cotton On and Kathmandu by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven cargo pants brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Cotton On and Kathmandu among cargo pants brands in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Cotton On, Kathmandu. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCotton OnKathmanduI Love UglyLevi'sHard YakkaLeeDickies
Oct 202569.2%20.7%8%1.1%0.77%0.14%0.01%
Nov 202565.3%19.5%14%0.67%0.46%0.09%<0.01%
Dec 202568.8%22%8.2%0.56%0.38%0.06%<0.01%
Jan 202666.5%25.6%6.3%0.78%0.72%0.11%<0.01%
Feb 202669.9%21.7%6.7%0.84%0.76%0.14%0.01%
Mar 202669.1%21.1%8.2%0.89%0.65%0.12%<0.01%
Apr 202667%24.9%6.5%0.76%0.69%0.11%<0.01%
May 202668.4%21.6%8.1%0.94%0.77%0.14%<0.01%
Jun 202661%28.1%8.8%0.97%0.94%0.16%<0.01%
Jul 202661.9%28.9%7.3%0.86%0.86%0.16%<0.01%
Aug 202662.3%22.6%13.1%1%0.74%0.16%<0.01%
Sep 202669.4%20.7%8%1.1%0.75%0.11%0.01%

How has the Cotton On and Kathmandu comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Cotton On was ahead of Kathmandu in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Cotton On’s share of searches among cargo pants brands in New Zealand moved from 69.2% to 69.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 192K to 193K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kathmandu’s share of searches among cargo pants brands in New Zealand held steady at 20.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 57.4K to 57.6K.

How did search popularity change for New Zealand cargo pants brands in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Cotton On gained share of searches among cargo pants brands in New Zealand, from 62.3% to 69.4%.

  2. In September 2026, Kathmandu lost share of searches among cargo pants brands in New Zealand, from 22.6% to 20.7%.

How are branded searches counted?

29 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Cotton On’s and Kathmandu’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Cotton On

10 branded search terms

  • cotton on
  • cotton on activewear
  • cotton on body
  • cotton on jeans
  • cotton on mega
  • cotton on outlets
  • cotton on shoes
  • cotton on shorts
  • cotton on tops
  • cottonon

Kathmandu

19 branded search terms

  • Kathmandu
  • kathmandu bayfair
  • kathmandu beach shelter
  • kathmandu beach trolley
  • kathmandu botany
  • kathmandu gloves
  • kathmandu lyall bay
  • kathmandu northland
  • kathmandu outlet
  • kathmandu retreat 280
  • kathmandu retreat 80
  • kathmandu socks
  • kathmandu st lukes
  • kathmandu sylvia park
  • kathmandu tower junction
  • kathmandu trolley
  • kathmandu vest
  • kathmandu waitakere
  • kathmandu westgate

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among cargo pants brands

Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

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