Fashion and luxury brands: where they come from and what their logos mean

Quick answer: Most famous fashion and luxury houses come from France (Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Hermès), Italy (Gucci, Prada, Versace, Armani), the United States (Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger) and Germany (Adidas, Puma).

By country

Major houses:

• France: Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Hermès, Yves Saint Laurent
• Italy: Gucci, Prada, Versace, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana
• United States: Nike, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein
• Germany: Adidas, Puma, Hugo Boss
• Spain: Zara

Logo stories

Chanel’s interlocking Cs were Coco Chanel’s initials, Versace’s Medusa comes from Greek myth, and Lacoste’s crocodile was the nickname of founder René Lacoste.

Famous houses and where they come from

Founding facts that come up in quizzes:

Logos explained

Chanel’s interlocking Cs stand for Coco Chanel. Gucci’s interlocking Gs stand for founder Guccio Gucci. Louis Vuitton’s LV monogram was introduced in 1896 to stop copies. Hermès began as a maker of harnesses for horses, which is why its logo shows a horse-drawn carriage.

Spotting the difference

Many fashion logos are monograms, so quizzes often test small details such as letter shape, spacing and colour. Compare similar monograms side by side when you practise.

Fashion capitals

Four cities host the biggest fashion weeks:

Arab designers

Lebanese designers such as Elie Saab and Zuhair Murad dress celebrities on red carpets worldwide, and Dubai has become a major luxury shopping centre.

Frequently asked questions