Welcome to Haute Couture: Bestselling Designer Brands of 2022

“Fashion changes, but style endures.”

― Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel hit the nail right on the nail with her impeccable pronouncement. Style is something that is curated over the years. Even if fashion changes like the color of leaves, style is something that remains with us forever. This style is complimented by the apparel we don, the shoes we wear, and the bags we carry. Hence, it is apparent that despite all its fallacies, fashion has become an integral part of our lives. Over the years, a select few brands have made their special place in the world of fashion. Every quarter, they come up with innovative and stellar creations in their bid to reign supreme.

2022 has not been an easy year for most of us. With the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic still lingering and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in the first half of the year, people are still on edge. The rising prices of goods have not made things niftier. Even in this difficult stage, fashion brands have been doing their best to thrive. From collaborating with other labels to plunging into the metaverse, the fashion world is giving it its all.

Let us have a look at the top 5 bestselling fashion brands that have been successful in winning our hearts this year.

Brand: Nike

Estimated Brand Value: $33.1 B

Photo Credit: Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nike is one of those rare brands that is loved by all genders. The American Multinational Corporation has managed to win hearts with its footwear, apparel, and accessories. Nike sneakers are so popular that they became sold out within minutes of launch. It is Nike that can be credited with the launch of the first hands-free sneakers for adaptive athletes. This showed an increase of 59% in digital sales. Nike is also responsible for Naomi Osaka’s second collection. The brand also came up with the sustainable Air VaporMax, which includes 40% recycled content, in 2021.

Brand: Gucci

Estimated Brand Value: $18.1 B

Photo credit: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Double-G monogram and the iconic Gucci stripe of two green bars interjected by one red have become symbols of wealth. Owned by the French Kering group, Gucci was established by Guccio Gucci in Milan way back in 1921. In fact, it is one of the oldest Italian brands out there. During its inception, the brand produced luxury travel goods and equestrian equipment. It has come a long way today. Now, it offers a plethora of goods like high-end leather goods, fashion apparel, eyewear, jewelry, shoes, handbags, knitwear, silk goods, and beauty products. Gucci is one brand that adapts to the times. The arcade section on Gucci’s app is a fun one that ensures that the app’s users have fun while shopping.  Fans of the game, Sims, might have come across Gucci’s Off the Grid collection in the game itself. In 2021, Gucci became a part of an NFT video produced in partnership with Christie’s, a renowned art auction house. Remarkably, the proceeds from this venture were donated to UNICEF USA in order to support the COVAX vaccine.

Brand: Louis Vuitton

Estimated Brand Value: $15.1 B

Photo credit: Hkorich, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Louis Vuitton Malletier, popularly known as Louis Vuitton, was founded by the Frenchman, George Louis Vuitton, in Paris in the year, 1854. LV can be credited with a number of innovations. The flat-top trunk, lightweight canvas, signature patterns, and tumbler locks are all here for our use thanks to Louis Vuitton. Owned by the LVMH Group, Louis Vuitton is a staple in haute couture today with its famous LV monogram. Just like Gucci, Louis Vuitton sells a number of items like leather goods, shoes, handbags, perfumes, jewelry, trunks, and beauty products. It is a brand represented by some of the most well-known personalities around the world. The Korean boy band, BTS, Sophie Turner, Emma Stone, Naomi Osaka, and Liu Yifie have all been the faces of the brand.

Brand: Adidas

Estimated Brand Value: $14.3 B

Photo credit: Avda, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Adidas is a market leader in the sporting goods industry. Unbeknownst to many, the company’s origins are quite humble. In the early 1900s, Adolf “Adi” Dassler first came up with his business in his mother’s wash kitchen in Bavaria, Germany. He registered his company in 1924 with the name of Gebrüder Dassler Schufabrik. His aim was to provide the best equipment to athletes. Adidas achieved worldwide fame when the Germans, all geared up in Adidas paraphilia, beat Hungary in the 1954 World Cup. Since then, the brand came with a number of jaw-dropping innovations. In fact, Adidas was one of the first to integrate computer technology into shoes. Their product, Micropacer, had a system that provided performance statistics to athletes. Today, it is the second-largest sportswear manufacturer in the world.

Brand: Chanel

Estimated Brand Value: $13.5 B

Photo credit: Phillip Pessar, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Gabrielle Coco Chanel was the progenitor of the highly popular brand, Chanel. She founded it in 1910 while in Paris. It is of the rare high-end brands that are still owned privately. At present, Alain and Gerard Wertheimer own the company. The brothers are the grandsons of Pierre Wertheimer, one of Coco Chanel’s business partners. The perfumes, clothes, handbags, watches, and beauty products produced by Chanel are always in high demand. It was Chanel who came up with myriad mainstays in the fashion world. The little black dress, the Chanel No. 5 perfume, and the Chanel Suit all hold cult status.

Conclusion

No matter how removed from worldly things we consider ourselves to be, what we wear will always be one of our major considerations in life. It is one of our many human vices. Naturally, the fashion industry can never die down. With innovation and creativity, the top fashion brands will keep eking out a special spot in our hearts. The world of haute couture is a never-ending one where once you step in, there is no exit. However, it is a world that is transient. Tastes keep changing, and with that, the demand keeps shifting. Brands, no matter how high-end or old, have to remain on their in order to adapt to the latest trends. To maintain one’s foothold in the dynamic fashion industry, brands have to keep evolving.

Do let me know your favorite brand out of all the bestselling ones this year.