Brandwave

Cotton On vs Kathmandu:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Cotton On had more branded searches than Kathmandu among cargo shorts brands in New Zealand. Cotton On had about 193,000 branded searches, while Kathmandu had 57,600. Cotton On made up 55.7% of all cargo shorts brand searches we track, and Kathmandu accounted for 16.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cargo shorts brands, Cotton On appeared in three of the five answers and Kathmandu in two. Cotton On and Kathmandu were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.

Among cargo shorts 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?

Cotton On, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Kathmandu in 2

Cotton On in 3 of 5Kathmandu in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

Cotton On first in 2Kathmandu first in 2

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Top cargo shorts brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Cotton On was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Kathmandu was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Cotton On and Kathmandu were each listed first in two of the four answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Mountain Warehouse1st
  2. Hard Yakka2nd
  3. Kathmandu3rd
  4. Stoney Creek4th
  5. Cotton On5th
  6. AS Colour6th
  7. Helly Hansen7th
  8. Lee–
  9. Wrangler–
  10. Dickies–

Mentioned by AI

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

  • Mountain Warehouse4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Cotton On3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Hard Yakka3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Kathmandu2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • AS Colour2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Stoney Creek2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Helly Hansen2 of 5Named in 2 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
  • Wrangler0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Dickies0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about cargo shorts 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 ten cargo shorts brands we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Cotton On and Kathmandu among cargo shorts 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 OnKathmanduMountain WarehouseAS ColourStoney CreekHard YakkaHelly HansenLeeWranglerDickies
Oct 202554.6%16.4%14.1%11.5%2.3%0.61%0.37%0.11%0.02%0.01%
Nov 202556.1%16.8%12%12%2.4%0.4%0.32%0.08%0.01%<0.01%
Dec 202555.2%17.7%14.6%9.8%2%0.31%0.47%0.05%0.01%<0.01%
Jan 202651.6%19.9%16.2%8.9%2.2%0.56%0.51%0.09%<0.01%<0.01%
Feb 202655.3%17.2%14.4%9.6%2.4%0.6%0.38%0.11%0.01%<0.01%
Mar 202655.1%16.9%14.5%9.7%2.9%0.52%0.31%0.09%0.01%<0.01%
Apr 202652.7%19.6%13.9%9.3%3.4%0.54%0.37%0.09%0.02%<0.01%
May 202654.3%17.1%14.3%9.6%3.5%0.61%0.38%0.11%0.02%<0.01%
Jun 202647.1%21.7%15.2%10.2%4.5%0.72%0.4%0.12%0.02%<0.01%
Jul 202644.9%21%21.6%7.9%3.5%0.62%0.38%0.11%0.02%<0.01%
Aug 202648.9%17.7%18.8%10.3%3.1%0.58%0.48%0.12%0.02%<0.01%
Sep 202655.7%16.6%14.3%9.5%2.9%0.6%0.37%0.09%0.02%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 shorts brands in New Zealand moved from 54.6% to 55.7%, 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 shorts brands in New Zealand moved from 16.4% to 16.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 57.4K to 57.6K.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Cotton On gained share of searches among cargo shorts brands in New Zealand, from 48.9% to 55.7%.

  2. In September 2026, Kathmandu lost share of searches among cargo shorts brands in New Zealand, from 17.7% to 16.6%.

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 shorts brands

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