What makes a fashion brand a household name? Is it revenue and market share or an irreplaceable fashion aesthetic? Some of the most iconic fashion houses have created groundbreaking looks and set trends that influence the way we dress everyday. Here are eight of the world’s most successful luxury fashion brands.

Versace (Italy)

Founded by Gianni Versace in 1978, family-run Versace is the epitome of Italian style. The brand’s logo, the head of Medusa, is meant to signify how the brand captures the attention of its audience. The Versace brand started as a high-end couture house and has now added upmarket ready-to-wear apparel to its offerings. Its bright colors and flashy prints have featured on countless red carpets. With heiress Allegra Versace at the helm, Versace has notably become one of the most inclusive brands, collaborating with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation.

Gucci (Italy)

Gucci was founded by Guccio Gucci in Florence in 1921. The leather merchant sold imported luggage and goods produced by local leather artisans. He eventually started a leather workshop and developed a tanning technique known as ‘cuoio grasso’, which became a trademark of the Gucci brand. During the 1980s, the brand suffered from family feuds and mass-production that negatively affected the brand’s luxury image. Since its focus has returned to craftsmanship, Gucci products such as the Jackie O bag and the Dionysus handbag have become highly coveted items.

Prada (Italy)

Prada was founded as a small leather goods store by Mario Prada and his brother Martino in 1913. However, it was not until his granddaughter, Miuccia Prada, took over the company in the 1970s that it began to rise to the ranks as a luxury brand. In 1985, Miuccia launched the classic Prada handbag and propelled the brand into popularity. The clean lines, top-notch craftsmanship, and minimalistic aesthetic soon became Prada’s signature style and carried across to its ready-to-wear collections. In 1992, Prada launched Miu Miu, a high fashion women’s brand.

Louis Vuitton (Italy)

Renowned for its LV monogram, Louis Vuitton Malletier was founded over a century ago in 1854 by Georges Louis Vuitton. The brand started off making canvas flat-topped trunks for voyages by sea and opened its first store in London in 1885. Today, Louis Vuitton makes more than just bags. From luxury trunks to shoes, accessories, and ready-to-wear collections, the brand is one of the world’s most valuable brands. Louis Vuitton cultivates high-profile brand ambassadors and has been worn by celebrities such as Madonna and BTS.

Bottega Veneta (Italy)

Bottega Veneta was founded in 1966 by Michele Taddei and Renzo Zengiaro. The brand specialized in artisanal leather goods and developed a distinctive signature leather weave known as the ‘intrecciato’. The brand entered the ready-to-wear market in the 1990s. Moving in a more discreet direction than its peers, Bottega Veneta is known for its stealth-wealth approach—the brand’s products have no visible logos. This intrinsic focus on quality and craftsmanship has led Bottega Veneta products, especially handbags, to become sought-after status symbols.

Saint Laurent (France)

Formerly known as Yves Saint Laurent or YSL, Saint Laurent was founded in 1961 by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. In an attempt to make fashion accessible to all, Saint Laurent broke the mold of couture houses and introduced prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear) lines in 1966. As a brand, Saint Laurent has continuously sought to empower women and lead the conversation on dressing individuals in strong, modern silhouettes. In recent years, Saint Laurent’s Loulou and Puffer leather handbags have become extremely popular.

Dior (France)

Dior was established in 1947 as a partnership between fashion designer Christian Dior and wealthy businessman Marcel Boussac. The debut collection that was launched in February 1947 was dubbed a revolutionary ‘New Look’ for women and is credited for reviving the love of haute couture in France. In 1949, Dior started to sell its clothing overseas and made up 75 percent of Paris’s fashion exports. Like Louis Vuitton, Dior has created strong relationships with celebrity ambassadors. In addition, it showcases diversity by featuring celebrities such as Blackpink’s Kim Ji-soo and Chinese transgender star Jin Xing.

Balenciaga (Spain)

A rare deviation from the couture hubs of Italy and France, Balenciaga was founded in 1917 by fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga in Spain. After the Spanish Civil War, Balenciaga moved to Paris. There, he redefined the shapes of clothing, creating new silhouettes such as the square coat, the baby doll dress, and the balloon skirt. In recent years, Баленсиага (Balenciaga) has continued its revolutionary approach to fashion, elevating streetwear to couture and pushing the boundaries of oversized apparel and athletic high fashion. Balenciaga is a modern brand that has embraced the metaverse with Spotify podcasts and a collaboration with the Fortnite video game.

Fashion is an ever-changing field. It is impossible to tell what will come next as fashion houses continue to innovate and create new ways for us to express ourselves. By maintaining their focus on quality and the future, these fashion brands may continue to be seen in every city for decades to come.