There was a time when humans didn’t wear clothes at all. It might seem absurd at this point in time, but it is our history. With the passage of time and the evolution of humankind, people felt the need to wear clothes. Whether it was to protect oneself from external hazards or just the basic instinct of wearing clothes. It’s a journey that started with leaves and tree trunks and then moved on to animal skin. After the dawn of civilization, we learned how to weave clothes from plants and other sources. And the rest is as they “is history”.
It won’t be wrong to say that the clothing industry is one of the ancient industries. Although we understand that clothing is a basic human necessity at this point. The truth is that the industry has evolved into much more than that. The fashion industry is largely considered to be one of the most important industries in the world.
Fashion Industry in Modern Age
The world of the fashion industry is dominated by the leading luxury haute couture clothing brands all over the globe. They are the real trendsetters and leaders who influence the world of fashion. With the right approach, you can easily make a grotesque look alluring and transform a nerdy geek into a fashion icon. If you can afford it, these luxurious clothing brands are the perfect commodity for your closet. For a “shopaholic” these brands are like paradise. Having said that, we understand that the world is filled with so-called leading fashion brands. Finding the right brand for you is as difficult as finding the holy grail.
These fashion brands are not just creating clothes or bags or perfumes or shoes, what they are doing is the epitome of art. Their creativity brings individuality to your identity, induces confidence in your soul, and depicts a great deal about your personality.
Whether it’s the legendary Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly and her infamous cerulean jacket monologue, or Angelina Jolie breaking the internet with her 2012 Oscars’ black slit dress by Atelier Versace. The world has seen the fashion industry affecting and influencing our lives greatly throughout the years.
The world got to see the real power of the fashion industry when Jennifer Lopez wore the “Green Versace Dress” on the red carpet of the 42nd Grammy Awards in 2000. After JLo wore that dress, so many people were searching images of the dress on the world wide web. With so many people searching for the same image at the same time, the internet went down.
Most Popular Clothing Brands in The Fashion World
This massive event led to the invention of “Google Images”. This indicates how a mere dress can influence the world. That dress single-handedly changed the way we surf and browse the internet. It is a clear depiction of the power and influence that the fashion industry holds over our lives. So let’s dig deeper into some of the biggest clothing brands leading the fashion industry all over the world.
1Gucci
We don’t think that our number one pick is none other than Gucci. Over the years Gucci has established itself as a household name still being a top-tier luxury brand.
What started in a small shop in Florence in the early 1920s is rightly regarded as the biggest tycoon of the fashion industry.
Gucci is the biggest-selling Italian brand in history. Even Gucci could never have imagined the extent of success he achieved over the years when he laid the foundation of this fashion house.
Over the course of its illustrious history, Gucci has achieved several milestones in the fashion industry. In 1940 Gucci’s eldest son Aldo Gucci took over the reins. He was the one who actually transformed the brand into a cultural phenomenon. After Aldo, his son Paolo Gucci introduced the first-ever exotic ready-to-wear segment in the 1960s. Which became a mainstream part of Italian art and fashion.
Gucci also made an intelligent move by appointing the living legend and a visionary young designer, Tom Ford as their creative director in 1994. The world cannot deny the brilliance of Tom Ford. He transformed Gucci into not just a brand but a cultural movement that altered history for good.
Gucci, on the other hand, continues to be one of the best in class digital performers in the industry, thanks to its use of digital storytelling, increased eCommerce, and a persistent desire to experiment and innovate online. The company is continuously experimenting online, from digital gifting with split payments to AR-powered try-on capabilities on Snapchat and the Gucci App.
Gucci also supports genderless fashion and a sustainable supply chain, both of which are significant values for the coveted younger generations of luxury buyers. Gucci, for example, developed eco-packaging and debuted its first sustainable collection, Off The Grid, in mid-2020.
Gucci is rightfully regarded as the cultural watershed of the fashion industry and a part of our collective zeitgeist. It is safe to say that in the pantheon of luxury clothing brands, Gucci stands alone at the very top.
2Dior
The luxury brand Dior was founded by the French couturier Christian Dior in 1947. In his debut collection, Christian Dior presented the revolutionary clothing line. With ninety different looks, he provided women who craved glamour in their lives.
Christian Dior’s first clothing line marked one of the most important moments in the history of not just fashion but changed the perspective of the whole world.
His “New Look” collection was so mesmerizing that after the show ended, Christian Dior’s face was all pink with kisses. Interesting fact that every piece in that collection was almost booked even before the show ended. The purpose of this collection was to make every woman feel like a duchess, and it definitely succeeded in achieving that.
Dior has demonstrated its vitality as a top luxury brand online throughout the years, experimenting with a variety of digital initiatives. In 2015, Dior was the first luxury company to market its products on WeChat Moments. The French fashion behemoth opened an official Tmall store for its skincare, cosmetics, and perfumes collections in June 2020. Dior was also the first top-tier luxury brand to offer a capsule collection exclusively for the Singles’ Day online shopping event, which was available at their WeChat store and website.
Dior provided various novel services for its international audience, including the Dior Maison virtual boutique (which replicates the shopping experience in its Champs-Élysées boutique), an Instagram AR Virtual Makeup Filter, and a virtual shoe try-on with Snapchat.
3Hermès
Hermès is another private luxury house, which is unusual on our list of the world’s greatest luxury brands.
Hermès has a strong China strategy and continues to enjoy the top desirability of its timeless classics, such as the highly sought-after Birkin bag, which has extensive waiting lists. This could explain why the Hermès secondhand market on resale sites like Fashionphile and The RealReal is flourishing.
Last year, on the reopening day of its flagship store in Guangzhou’s Taikoo Hui retail center, Hermès astonished the globe with record sales of US $2.7 million.
The fashion brand is also putting a greater emphasis on the internet realm. Except for its most recognizable products, Hermès declared that it will progressively extend its online business. The “digital flagship” Hermès web store, which was conceived and designed with an omnichannel approach, combines content and commerce. The prominent brand’s website is jam-packed with editorial material and sells a wide range of products. In Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Hermès opened online flagship stores.
In addition, Hermès has increased its presence in China. In fact, in January 2021, Hermès stealthily debuted on Tmall’s Luxury Pavilion, Alibaba Group’s B2C online marketplace.
4Prada
Prada began as a tiny leather goods company 100 years ago and has since grown to become one of the world’s most recognizable fashion houses. Prada has recently begun to integrate the particular aspects of its know-how with concepts inspired by the enhancement of people, the conservation of the environment, the respect of ethical values, and the promotion of culture, in the hopes of pursuing inclusive economic development in this way.
Today, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, a pioneering duo of designers, lead Prada, striking the sweet spot between classic and entertaining. Prada is one of the most popular clothing brands all around the world thanks to:
- Appointing Raff Simons as co-creative director.
- Partnering with UNESCO for an education program.
- Funding two new ICUs in Milan during Covid-19.
5Valentino
So far most of the fashion houses we have discussed originated from the fashion capital – Italy. Valentino is quite different in this regard. Valentino was conceived in 1959 in the heart of Rome, in the Eternal City. This is where the brand started and was nurtured for years. It was this period of time when Valentino showed their interest in contemporary fashion designs using history and culture as a playground.
Valentino Garavani founded the house, which is noted for its signature fabric tone, “Valentino red.” During the royal tour of Morocco in February 2019, Meghan Markle wore a red Valentino gown for an official engagement.
Over the years Valentino has been the choice of many icons in history. From the classic Hollywood divas to the new generation of pop stars, everyone has worn Valentino on their big days.
Valentino is most famous for its wedding gowns. There is a long list of notable celebs who choose Valentino for their wedding dresses. From royalty to veteran Hollywood actresses everyone opted for it. Some noteworthy names include the legendary Elizabeth Taylor, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, and Anne Hathaway.
6Levis
Levi Strauss Co. (LS&CO) is a public American clothing brand. It is known worldwide as Levis. Levis was founded in 1853, since then it has revolutionized the fashion industry in ways many can only imagine. In 1873 Levis and Jacob Davis received a U.S patent for the first-ever time to make riveted jeans out of denim.
This was revolutionary and one of the most important milestones in the fashion industry. Today we can’t think of living without denim. Levi Strauss died in 1902 and his nephew took over the business after his demise.
Levis is the oldest brand on this list. It has achieved a number of milestones over the course of time. Revolutionizing the fashion industry once and for all. Some of the prominent achievements are:
- In 1943 Levis registered the Arcuate stitching as a trademark.
- In 1953 they introduced a collection of zipped overalls for the first time.
- In 1966 they aired the first-ever television commercial for jeans.
- In 2001 Levis collaborated with “wall-Mart” to produce a special line of signature jeans and other denim clothes.
Out of all the brands on this list, Levis is the only brand that has outlets in almost every country in the world. From America to Britain, Europe to Russia, and from the Middle East to the Asian countries.
7Armani
Armani is a privately-owned Italian fashion house founded by Giorgio Armani and Sergio Galeotti in 1975. By the end of 2001, Giorgio Armani was the most successful designer ever to be produced from the world’s fashion capital – Italy. He taught the world that “Elegance is not about being noticed, it’s about being remembered”.
Giorgio Armani caters to high-end clientele, whereas Emporio Armani caters to mid-range customers, and A|X Armani Exchange caters to youthful fashionistas.
By taking the next step into the future, Armani partnered up with the online retailer Yoox Net-a-Porter to launch an AI-based omnichannel business model to assist customers and make online shopping much easier and efficient. The software is expected to be fully active by the end of 2022.
Giorgio Armani and MR PORTER collaborated on an exclusive 23-piece capsule collection of modern tailoring inspired by the Italian luxury brand’s renowned styles and silhouettes from the 1980s and 1990s, which will be released in March 2021.
8Versace
Founded by a true rockstar and legend in itself, Gianni Versace in 1978. The flamboyant Italian luxury brand is one of the most well-known and influential fashion houses in the industry.
The legendary Gianni was a freelance designer. He constantly challenged the norms and pushed new boundaries in the fashion industry. He made Versace what it is today from scratch. He transcended convention with his sharp cuts, vivid colors, offbeat fabric, and innovative designs incorporating contemporary culture.
The fashion house is famous for generating social media buzz with its unique approach. With 34.5 million users all across the digital media, it is clear why Versace stands such high in the fashion industry.
After the death of Gianni, his sister Donatella Versace, an equally amazing and competent woman, took over the reins. She keeps pushing boundaries and reaching new heights. With supermodel Gigi Hadid associated with Versace, you can clearly see her influence in making the brand more popular.
In December 2020, an avatar of Donatella Versace appeared at the virtual event Complexland, where guests could purchase one of only 100 pairs of Versace’s limited edition Trigreca sneakers.
9Chanel
Chanel, the premium French fashion label, is ranked ninth on our list of the most popular luxury fashion brands in 2021, owing to the collapse of Louis Vuitton. The haute-couture house did, in fact, maintain the same 11.55 percent share of online search interest as the previous year.
Chanel continues to be an international byword for luxury as one of the most well-known luxury brands in the world.
Although it is famous for shying away from eCommerce marketing, the widely celebrated French Maison excels on social media. Chanel witnessed a whopping growth in its social media following during 2021. With a total of 81.4 million followers across all social media platforms, it is rightly regarded as the fashion brand with the most followers on social media.
In addition to social media, Chanel continues to dabble in digital adoption in 2021. Last year, the brand debuted a digital-only presentation of its summer collection for the first time. The seven-minute film, titled ‘Balade en Méditerranée’ (A voyage around the Mediterranean), was posted exclusively online after the offline presentation was canceled.
Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, grandchildren of Pierre Wertheimer, Coco Chanel’s early business partner, still control Chanel. Clothes, fragrances, wallets, and watches are among the products available. The Chanel Suit, the Chanel No. 5 perfume, and the “little black dress” are among the brand’s most well-known products.
10Dolce & Gabbana
Though people may not think big of Dolce & Gabbana (D&G) today. Let us remind you that it is still one of the most influential and biggest brands in the world.
Domencio Dolce and Stefano Gabbana founded Dolce & Gabbana in 1982 as an Italian luxury fashion brand. Dolce & Gabbana are unquestionably the most prominent and leading designers in today’s luxury fashion sector, having made the modern lady seem incredibly sexy.
Their charming and crisp style is quite appreciated among the world’s best-dressed celebs. These two incredibly talented designers have collaborated to make the nicest, most flattering garments and enthralling scents. I tried my hardest, but encapsulating the D & G universe in a few terms is impossible due to their diversity and dedication, which cannot be expressed in words.
