Top Ranked Fashion Logos, as Perceived by the Authorities in the Fashion Industry
Fashion logos lure the eye with a mix of intricate heritage designs and timeless graphic emblems. To distinguish themselves, brands must flaunt unique logos. These emblems can live on as household names or contribute to the rise of a new cult favorite.
To savor our top 10 favorite fashion logos, we spoke to a spectrum of experts—ranging from graphic artists, art aficionados, lawyers, and sociologists. If you crave more design inspiration, explore our ultimate collection of remarkable logos of all time or dive into our guide to help design your perfect emblem.
01. Chanel - 1925 to present
Coco Chanel's self-designed interlocked 'C' initials exude an effortless charm. With a clean and easy-to-identify design, the Chanel logo, remarkably unchanged since 1925, speaks for itself. Marco Molteni, creative director of Jekyll & Hyde, praises the logo's inherent qualities: meaning, clarity, and strength, claiming it's the logo every designer would long to create.
Fueling urban myths, it's rumored that Chanel logos adorn lampposts in Mayfair. In reality, this is just an artful ploy by Westminster City Council. Instead, you're more likely to spot the emblem embellishing denim, gracing handbags, perched atop lipstick caps, or spelled out in pearls on a brooch.
David Airey, brand identity designer and author of Logo Design Love and Identity Designed, suggests the Chanel design communicates iconic status, even if it were different from the logo we love today, thanks to its long-standing 100-year presence.
02. Versace - 1993 to present
Versace's striking logo, established in 1993, originated from a mosaic Giovanni Versace admired as a child in his hometown of Reggio de Calabria. Its complexity makes it unforgettable, yet it's incomparable to previous, more modern-looking wordmarks. The logo's Medusa harkens back to early commercial symbolism while providing a classic appeal.
"Medusa in logos echoes the allure of folklore and mythological figures," shares James I. Bowie, sociology professor at Northern Arizona University and founder of Emblemetric, specializing in logo design research. "It signals deep roots and visual historical appeal."
The Medusa image is framed by a Greek key-style pattern, also featured as garment trimming on select items. In 2021, a remix of the logo debuted, incorporating vibrant colors and Medusa motifs, brilliantly connecting it to younger consumers.
03. Loewe - 2014 to present
Loewe, founded by a German craftsman and based in Spain, boasts a European flair. Its emblematic blend of the brand name with a stylized Anagram motif reflects its origins and heritage.
Mathias Augustyniak and Michael Amzalag of M/M Studio, redesigners of the logo and frequent collaborators with Loewe, found inspiration in Berthold Wolpe's Pegasus typeface during the redesign process. They created a distinct wordmark, blending European roots with a modernist edge.
Delving deeper into the Anagram, it's based on branding irons to create patterns based on 'L' letters. M/M Studio's research resulted in molding the letters according to the process of bending and shaping metal into simple symbols, lending a more minimal and industrial touch to the design.
To explore more heritage-driven brands, delve into our analysis of the fresh Burberry logo.
04. Louis Vuitton - 1854 to present
Monogram logos continue to enchant the fashion universe, and Louis Vuitton is unashamed to experiment with them, partly fueling logomania's peak in the mid-00s. However, the embossed 'LV' lettering overlaid with various motifs—a flower, star, and diamond—dates back to founder Louis Vuitton's son Georges, when the company sold luggage and boxes in the late 1800s.
Julie Zerbo, a lawyer and journalist who edits The Fashion Law, muses that the "LV interlocking 'LV' with the flower pattern is a trademark in itself. It's very powerful and fairly robust due to the demand." A satisfying corruption of the LV logo came during Marc Jacobs' creative direction reign, when he invited artist Stephen Sprouse to splatter a graffiti design over a monogrammed bag, resulting in the coveted Graffiti Speedy.
As quiet luxury wanes, the resurgence of prominent monograms like 'LV' emerges. While you may not recognize the pixelated plaid design that often accompanies the LV logo, the 'chequered' Damier pattern is trademarked separately, as Zerbo points out, emphasizing the importance of a well-protected brand identity.
05. Supreme - 1994 to present
You'll undoubtedly recognize this logo if you've ever perused the street-inspired fashion scene or skate culture. Despite never purchasing Supreme merchandise, the brand has enamored both skaters and fashion adorers since its 1994 debut. The Supreme Box logo, inspired by artist Barbara Kruger, features bold, italic lettering in an encompassing red square.
Inspiring controversy and criticism, Supreme received backlash from Kruger in 2017, when it exhibited exclusively Supreme-inspired goods in New York's Art Biennial. Kruger showcased designs parodying the Supreme logo, playfully referencing the famous company's name.
"The Supreme logo is easily identifiable; when you see red text against a white background, you know where it originates," Zerbo attests. "The brand knows its clientele, and the demand is high, making it challenging to order large quantities due to its 'drop model.'" Supreme's logo adaptations, ranging from store openings to playful artistic homages, have cemented its legendary status in the fashion world.
06. COS - 2007-2021
Distinguishing itself from fast fashion sister brand H&M, COS embraces an ethos revolving around clothes built to last and often inspired by architecture or art. True to their commitment to longevity, COS's original logo, from the brand's inception in 2007 to its 2021, replacement consisted of a 3D wordmark, subtly extruding parts of each letter, allowing the edges to serve as shadows and making the lettering appear sculptural and notable.
"The original COS logo mirrored the brand's minimalist style perfectly—its letterforms weren't even visible; rather, only their shadows indicated their existence," Bowie explains. The redesign, finishing in 2021, dulls the equally charming and distinct sculptural COS wordmark, opting for a more uniform, sanitized appearance.
Both the H&M Group and the UK PR company representing COS declined to comment on the redesign, but Airey and Bowie question whether the heavy reliance on negative space caused logistical challenges, given its difficulty to reproduce at different sizes and mediums.
07. Comme des Garçons PLAY - 2002 to present
The diffusion line from avant-garde brand Comme des Garçons introduces a whimsical, playful element. Characterized by a cartoonish, childlike heart symbol with cartoon eyes, Polish artist Filip Pagowski designed this instantly recognizable logo for the range of classic basics.
Timing is crucial, according to Bowie: the use of hearts in logos peaked in the United States after 2001, likely in reaction to September 11. Pagowski's heart-shaped logo was favorably positioned to abate our desire for love in an increasingly unstable world.
For artist and graphic designer Rachel Kate Noble, commissioned by Sevenstore to create artwork inspired by Pagowski's logo, the design offers a glimpse into the more radical artistic thinking behind the brand. "The signature heart-shaped Comme des Garçons PLAY logo, with its playful cartoon appearance, implies the more radical, artistic thinking position of the brand."
08. A Bathing Ape - 1993 to present
Japanese streetwear brand A Bathing Ape stands out for its unpretentious approach to logo variations. The visuals, created by founder Nigo in 1993, encompass a simple, stencil-like rendering of an ape head and neck in two colors.
The name draws from Planet of the Apes, juxtaposed with the Japanese custom of rich young men taking baths. Instead of depicting the complete ape, the logo features only its facial features and neck, making it more feasible for various art rendering at multiple scales. A Bathing Ape isn't shy about logo experimentation, manipulating colors, surrounding motifs, and adaptations for store openings and artistic homages.
In 2023, the brand announced collaborations with ASUS, Adidas, Gran Turismo, and football team Inter Miami. These partnerships allow limited-edition, sought-after items, further cementing A Bathing Ape's elusive allure.
09. Marge Sherwood - 2022 to present
Marge Sherwood, a character from Patricia Highsmith's novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955), inspired the eponymous fashion brand. Founded in 2016 by pair Sungeun Um and Soonyoung Kim, the brand debuted with a line of bags before expanding into shoes.
From the brand's launch in 2016 until 2021, the logo was rather standard, consisting of narrow capital letters with wide spacing. The redesign, released in 2022, became far more effective, with retro underpinnings, typographical nuances, and varying letterform weights evoking memories of the character who so influenced the brand's founders.
Airey delves into the appeal of nostalgia in fashion logos, noting that, as time passes, we "think back to our fondest memories and want to be back there… These designs capitalize on this desire and have lasting appeal."
10. Telfar - 2005 to present
The Telfar Clemens-founded fashion brand's monogram transports us back to private school days, with the founder's initials, 'TC,' cleverly integrated within the letter 'O' in theVERSIONS name. This logo is renowned for gracing Telfar's highly coveted, unisex bag collection, also known as the "Bushwick Birkin."
Similar to Hermès, Telfar has experienced legal issues concerning its logo. In a dispute with beauty mogul Charlotte Tilbury, Telfar opposed Charlotte Tilbury's trademark application to apply the 'CT' logo on perfumes and cosmetics due to perceived similarities, despite both brands selling different lines of products.
This exchange underscores the importance of diligent logo protection when experimenting with variations and expanding product lines.
- Chanel's logo, featuring the interlocked 'C' initials, is praised for its effortless charm, long-standing presence, and inherent qualities such as meaning, clarity, and strength. Marco Molteni, creative director of Jekyll & Hyde, applauds it as the logo every designer would aspire to create.
- Versace's logo, which originated from a mosaic admired by Giovanni Versace in his hometown, is remarkable for its complexity, historical appeal, and allure derived from its Medusa harkening back to early commercial symbolism.
- Loewe's emblematic blend of the brand name and a stylized Anagram motif reflects its origins and heritage, with M/M Studio finding inspiration in Berthold Wolpe's Pegasus typeface during the redesign process.
- The embossed 'LV' lettering in the Louis Vuitton monogram dates back to founder Louis Vuitton's son Georges, with a flower, star, and diamond motifs overlaying the initials. The interlocking 'LV' with the flower pattern is a trademark in itself, according to Julie Zerbo, a lawyer and journalist.
- The Supreme Box logo, inspired by artist Barbara Kruger, features bold, italic lettering in a red square and has faced controversy and criticism over the years. Despite never purchasing Supreme merchandise, it has enamored both skaters and fashion adorers since its 1994 debut.
- COS's original logo, which mirrored the brand's minimalist style, consisted of a 3D wordmark with extruding parts of each letter, making the lettering appear sculptural and notable. The redesigned logo, released in 2021, opted for a more uniform and sanitized appearance.
- The Comme des Garçons PLAY logo, designed by Filip Pagowski, features a cartoonish, childlike heart symbol with cartoon eyes and plays into the desire for love in an increasingly unstable world, as per James I. Bowie, sociology professor and founder of Emblemetric.
- A Bathing Ape stands out for its unpretentious approach to logo variations, with founder Nigo creating a simple, stencil-like rendering of an ape head and neck in two colors. Nigo's design allows for various art renderings at multiple scales.
- Marge Sherwood, a character from Patricia Highsmith's novel, inspired the eponymous fashion brand. The redesigned logo, released in 2022, became more effective with retro underpinnings, typographical nuances, and varying letterform weights.
- The Telfar logo transports us back to private school days with the founder's initials, 'TC,' cleverly integrated within the letter 'O' in theVERSIONS name. The logo is renowned for gracing Telfar's highly coveted, unisex bag collection, also known as the "Bushwick Birkin." The logo has faced legal issues concerning trademarks, as seen in a dispute with beauty mogul Charlotte Tilbury.
