A crash course on the most popular labels and groups in the business
A crash course on the most popular labels and groups in the business.
LVMH
Paris-based LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton sits right at the top of the luxury market. It has a portfolio of over 60 brands, including wines and spirits such as Dom Perignon; fashion and leather goods such as Louis Vuitton and Fendi; and perfume and cosmetics such as Guerlain and Givenchy.
Bulgari
Bulgari is one of the oldest Italian jewellery houses dating back to 1884. Its jewellery combines both vintage and modern elements, and is a huge favourite of Hollywood stars. Actress Keira Knightley turned heads with a Bulgari necklace studded with sapphires and rubies at the 2006 Oscars.
Fendi
The brand name Fendi is almost synonymous with fur. Although it is a big ready-to-wear and accessories label, its 88-year-old legacy of fur craftsmanship makes it a style statement among the rich and famous.
Louis Vuitton
In 1852, French emperor Napoleon's wife hired Louis Vuitton as her personal box-maker. More than 150 years later, the brand launched by a farmer's son remains fit for a king while its signature monogram is an icon of style.
KERING
Kering, earlier known as Pinault-Printemps-Redoute or PPR, was a building materials company which entered the luxury business in 1999 with the purchase of Gucci. Brands under the Gucci portfolio include Yves Saint Laurent, now known as Saint Laurent Paris, Bottega Veneta, Boucheron and Balenciaga.
Bottega Veneta
Italian luxury goods house Bottega Veneta began by producing artisanal leather goods. Today, it makes a host of products such as fine jewellery and eyewear, but is best known for its special leather-weaving technique, the intrecciato. Its most popular product is the Knot clutch, almost a symbol of the brand.
Gucci
It is easily the most popular luxury brand. The Bamboo Bag and Horsebit Loafer are the two most iconic designs from the label started by Guccio Gucci in the 1920s. The Horsebit's signature double-ring and bar are instantly recogniseable while its bamboo motif is a regular on its scarves, watchstraps and jewellery.
Boucheron
The House of Boucheron has been crafting heirloom jewels for more than 150 years. Royalty from Queen Elizabeth to the Maharaja of Patiala and Queen Rania of Jordan have worn the French jeweller's pieces. The iconic Boucheron serpent, which goes back to the inaugural serpentine masterpiece created by Boucheron in honour of his wife in 1888, has inspired pieces throughout the history of the house.
Balenciaga
Traditionally, Balenciaga couture was best known for its clean and modern aesthetic. But since fashion designer Cristbal Balenciaga opened his fi rst store in Spain in 1918, the label's innovations have gone from balloon dresses to pillbox hats. Its most iconic accessory is the Motorcycle Bag.
Saint Laurent Paris
The brand was founded by French designer Yves Saint Laurent. Best known as the man who put women in trousers, Saint Laurent introduced the Le Smoking jacket and tuxedo suits for women. His use of androgynous models with gelled hair and three-piece suits gave women a lot more power.
SWATCH GROUP
The Swatch Group was formed in 1983 with the merging of two Swiss watch manufacturers - ASUAG and SSIH. It has 20 watch brands ranging from luxury names such as Breguet, Jaquet Droz and OMEGA to the more middle range Tissot and Calvin Klein labels. Its most basic range is under the Swatch and Flik Flak labels.
Pierre Jaquet Droz, an 18th century Swiss watchmaker, once awed royalty with his enamelled musical watches. Today, brand Jaquet Droz produces watches known for their mechanical wizardy. The Bird Repeater with hatching eggs and a mother bird feeding baby birds is one example.
PUIG
Luxury firm Antonio Puig was founded in 1914 as a company dedicated to the cosmetic and fragrance sectors. In the 1940s, it began marketing Agua Lavanda Puig, one of its best-known products. It owns fashion brands Carolina Herrera and Jean Paul Gaultier, and fragrances from Prada and Valentino.
Jean Paul Gaultier
French designer Jean Paul Gaultier never received formal training as a designer, but creates some of the most unorthodox designs. Sometimes called the enfant terrible of fashion, his often rebellious aesthetic is best represented by his one of his most shocking creations: Madonna's cone bra.
RICHEMONT
Compagnie Financiere Richemont was founded in 1988 by Switzerland-based South African businessman Johann Rupert. The Richemont group is a specialist watchmaker with the largest market share in the luxury watch segment with brands like Baume & Mercier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget and Vacheron Constantin.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
The collaboration between founders Antoine LeCoultre and Edward Jaeger's watch-making companies in 1937 led to the creation of brand Jaeger-LeCoultre. It has registered approximately 400 patents, but is best known for perfecting the technology of the Atmos watch.
INDEPENDENT BRANDS
Burberry Group
Burberry Group was founded by Thomas Burberry in 1856. The London-based house made its mark with gabardine, a water-resistant fabric used to make its most iconic product, the trench coat. Thomas Burberry added shoulder straps and metal rings to a coat designed for the British army - and the trench coat was born.
Jimmy Choo
Jimmy Choo is a Malaysian-Chinese designer based in London. His shoes are the ultimate name in glamour and are worn by top celebrities such as Nicole Kidman. His biggest contribution to the world of shoe chic remains the strappy gladiator with towering heels.
Valentino
Italian fashion designer Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani founded the storied brand in 1960. The brand's iconic red gowns, in a shade known as the Valentino red, have been flaunted on the red carpet by many Hollywood celebrities including Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Liz Hurley and Anne Hathaway.
Cristian Louboutin
Famous shoe designer Christian Louboutin opened his first shop in 1991 in Paris. By 2012, he had 42 boutiques globally selling around 600,000 pairs annually. The Louboutins work like a charm on the red carpet and many stars order custom-made shoes, the most recent being Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor.
Chanel
The French brand was founded by Coco Chanel in the early 20th century. The brand specialises in pricey haute couture outfits, ready-to-wear clothes, fashion accessories and perfumes. The House of Chanel is best known for the Little Black Dress, a staple for women around the world, and twin skirt-suits in tweed.
Versace
One of the leading international fashion houses, Versace is known for its picture-perfect red carpet gowns. The first Versace store opened in 1978. Its most acclaimed dress is the Bondage Halter from the Fall 1992 Bondage collection. The outfit was popularised recently by singer Lady Gaga.
Armani
Arguably the most famous Italian designer, Giorgio Armani designed his first menswear piece, the leather bomber jacket, in 1970. His signature creations are men's suits and jackets. The high-end label also excels in ready-to-wear clothes, accessories, perfumes and home furniture.
Ferragamo
Italian shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo was once labelled "Shoemaker to the Stars". Marilyn Monroe wore his steel-reinforced stilettos with a billowing white dress in the memorable The Seven Year Itch. Today, he's credited with inventing one of the most enduring styles in the world of shoe fashion: the cork wedge.
Hermes
The French company is famous for its leather products, lifestyle accessories and perfumes. It launched the Birkin bag in 1984 and has since become an icon of wealth and class. The price for a Birkin ranges from 6,000 pound to 100,000 pound. The hand-sewn bags are mostly made on order.
Ermenegildo Zegna
The Italian luxury fashion house came into being in 1910 and is known for producing quality menswear. Style, excellence and perfect finish are what make these suits a favourite with the rich and classy. Actors Gerard Butler, Chris Pine and Liam Hemsworth have been seen sporting a Zegna on the red carpet.
Tom Ford
Tom Ford was Vice Chairman of Gucci Group before launching his eponymous label in 2005. Top Hollywood actors including Bradley Cooper have been spotted wearing a Tom Ford tux on the red carpet. Daniel Craig also wore a Tom Ford tuxedo in the latest James Bond movie Skyfall.
Manolo Blahnk
Spanish fashion designer Manuel Manolo Blahnik Rodriguez introduced stilettos in the early 1970s at a time when platforms and chunky heels were the fashion of the day. In the popular TV show Sex and the City, Blahnik shoes are the favourites of the lead character Carrie Bradshaw.
Prada
The Milan-based brand is synonymous with fashion and luxury. Set up in 1913, Prada makes luxury handbags, leather goods, footwear, ready-to-wear apparel, accessories, eyewear and fragrances. The Prada group also owns some smaller brands like Miu Miu, Car Shoe and Church's.
Tod's
Tod's began as a small cobbling business of Filippo Della Valle in Le Marche, Italy, in the early 1900s. Today, the Driving Moccasin, or simply the loafer, is the most famous Tod's product, and is known for its craftsmanship and high-quality leather. It comes in a wide colour palette and has an elite customer base.
Christian Dior
French designer Christian Dior opened his first store in 1946. One of the most well-known products from the fashion house is the Princess Diana-inspired Lady Dior handbag made in the Cannage pattern by stitching geometric grids into lambskin.
Roberto Cavalli
Italian designer Roberto Cavalli, who introduced printing on leather in 1970, is best known for exotic and animal prints. Hilary Duff, Beyonce, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shilpa Shetty have been known to sport Cavalli outfits.
Paris-based LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton sits right at the top of the luxury market. It has a portfolio of over 60 brands, including wines and spirits such as Dom Perignon; fashion and leather goods such as Louis Vuitton and Fendi; and perfume and cosmetics such as Guerlain and Givenchy.
Bulgari is one of the oldest Italian jewellery houses
Bulgari is one of the oldest Italian jewellery houses dating back to 1884. Its jewellery combines both vintage and modern elements, and is a huge favourite of Hollywood stars. Actress Keira Knightley turned heads with a Bulgari necklace studded with sapphires and rubies at the 2006 Oscars.
The brand name Fendi is almost synonymous with fur
The brand name Fendi is almost synonymous with fur. Although it is a big ready-to-wear and accessories label, its 88-year-old legacy of fur craftsmanship makes it a style statement among the rich and famous.
Louis Vuitton
In 1852, French emperor Napoleon's wife hired Louis Vuitton as her personal box-maker. More than 150 years later, the brand launched by a farmer's son remains fit for a king while its signature monogram is an icon of style.
KERING
Kering, earlier known as Pinault-Printemps-Redoute or PPR, was a building materials company which entered the luxury business in 1999 with the purchase of Gucci. Brands under the Gucci portfolio include Yves Saint Laurent, now known as Saint Laurent Paris, Bottega Veneta, Boucheron and Balenciaga.
Bottega Veneta
Italian luxury goods house Bottega Veneta began by producing artisanal leather goods. Today, it makes a host of products such as fine jewellery and eyewear, but is best known for its special leather-weaving technique, the intrecciato. Its most popular product is the Knot clutch, almost a symbol of the brand.
Gucci Bamboo Bag and Horsebit Loafer
It is easily the most popular luxury brand. The Bamboo Bag and Horsebit Loafer are the two most iconic designs from the label started by Guccio Gucci in the 1920s. The Horsebit's signature double-ring and bar are instantly recogniseable while its bamboo motif is a regular on its scarves, watchstraps and jewellery.
Boucheron jewels
The House of Boucheron has been crafting heirloom jewels for more than 150 years. Royalty from Queen Elizabeth to the Maharaja of Patiala and Queen Rania of Jordan have worn the French jeweller's pieces. The iconic Boucheron serpent, which goes back to the inaugural serpentine masterpiece created by Boucheron in honour of his wife in 1888, has inspired pieces throughout the history of the house.
Balenciaga couture
Traditionally, Balenciaga couture was best known for its clean and modern aesthetic. But since fashion designer Cristbal Balenciaga opened his fi rst store in Spain in 1918, the label's innovations have gone from balloon dresses to pillbox hats. Its most iconic accessory is the Motorcycle Bag.
Yves Saint Laurent suits for women
The brand was founded by French designer Yves Saint Laurent. Best known as the man who put women in trousers, Saint Laurent introduced the Le Smoking jacket and tuxedo suits for women. His use of androgynous models with gelled hair and three-piece suits gave women a lot more power.
SWATCH GROUP
The Swatch Group was formed in 1983 with the merging of two Swiss watch manufacturers - ASUAG and SSIH. It has 20 watch brands ranging from luxury names such as Breguet, Jaquet Droz and OMEGA to the more middle range Tissot and Calvin Klein labels. Its most basic range is under the Swatch and Flik Flak labels.
Pierre Jaquet Droz
Pierre Jaquet Droz, an 18th century Swiss watchmaker, once awed royalty with his enamelled musical watches. Today, brand Jaquet Droz produces watches known for their mechanical wizardy. The Bird Repeater with hatching eggs and a mother bird feeding baby birds is one example.
PUIG
Luxury firm Antonio Puig was founded in 1914 as a company dedicated to the cosmetic and fragrance sectors. In the 1940s, it began marketing Agua Lavanda Puig, one of its best-known products. It owns fashion brands Carolina Herrera and Jean Paul Gaultier, and fragrances from Prada and Valentino.
French designer Jean Paul Gaultier
French designer Jean Paul Gaultier never received formal training as a designer, but creates some of the most unorthodox designs. Sometimes called the enfant terrible of fashion, his often rebellious aesthetic is best represented by his one of his most shocking creations: Madonna's cone bra.
RICHEMONT
Compagnie Financiere Richemont was founded in 1988 by Switzerland-based South African businessman Johann Rupert. The Richemont group is a specialist watchmaker with the largest market share in the luxury watch segment with brands like Baume & Mercier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Piaget and Vacheron Constantin.
Jaeger-LeCoultre watch
The collaboration between founders Antoine LeCoultre and Edward Jaeger's watch-making companies in 1937 led to the creation of brand Jaeger-LeCoultre. It has registered approximately 400 patents, but is best known for perfecting the technology of the Atmos watch.
INDEPENDENT BRANDS
Burberry Group was founded by Thomas Burberry in 1856. The London-based house made its mark with gabardine, a water-resistant fabric used to make its most iconic product, the trench coat. Thomas Burberry added shoulder straps and metal rings to a coat designed for the British army - and the trench coat was born.
Jimmy Choo
Jimmy Choo is a Malaysian-Chinese designer based in London. His shoes are the ultimate name in glamour and are worn by top celebrities such as Nicole Kidman. His biggest contribution to the world of shoe chic remains the strappy gladiator with towering heels.
Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani
Italian fashion designer Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani founded the storied brand in 1960. The brand's iconic red gowns, in a shade known as the Valentino red, have been flaunted on the red carpet by many Hollywood celebrities including Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Liz Hurley and Anne Hathaway.
Christian Louboutin
Famous shoe designer Christian Louboutin opened his first shop in 1991 in Paris. By 2012, he had 42 boutiques globally selling around 600,000 pairs annually. The Louboutins work like a charm on the red carpet and many stars order custom-made shoes, the most recent being Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor.
The brand specialises in pricey haute couture outfits
Chanel
The French brand was founded by Coco Chanel in the early 20th century. The brand specialises in pricey haute couture outfits, ready-to-wear clothes, fashion accessories and perfumes. The House of Chanel is best known for the Little Black Dress, a staple for women around the world, and twin skirt-suits in tweed.
Versace gowns
One of the leading international fashion houses, Versace is known for its picture-perfect red carpet gowns. The first Versace store opened in 1978. Its most acclaimed dress is the Bondage Halter from the Fall 1992 Bondage collection. The outfit was popularised recently by singer Lady Gaga.
Armani suit
Arguably the most famous Italian designer, Giorgio Armani designed his first menswear piece, the leather bomber jacket, in 1970. His signature creations are men's suits and jackets. The high-end label also excels in ready-to-wear clothes, accessories, perfumes and home furniture.
Italian shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo was once labelled "Shoemaker to the Stars". Marilyn Monroe wore his steel-reinforced stilettos with a billowing white dress in the memorable The Seven Year Itch. Today, he's credited with inventing one of the most enduring styles in the world of shoe fashion: the cork wedge.
Hermes leather products
The French company is famous for its leather products, lifestyle accessories and perfumes. It launched the Birkin bag in 1984 and has since become an icon of wealth and class. The price for a Birkin ranges from 6,000 pound to 100,000 pound. The hand-sewn bags are mostly made on order.
Italian luxury fashion house Ermenegildo Zegna
The Italian luxury fashion house came into being in 1910 and is known for producing quality menswear. Style, excellence and perfect finish are what make these suits a favourite with the rich and classy. Actors Gerard Butler, Chris Pine and Liam Hemsworth have been seen sporting a Zegna on the red carpet.
Tom Ford
Tom Ford was Vice Chairman of Gucci Group before launching his eponymous label in 2005. Top Hollywood actors including Bradley Cooper have been spotted wearing a Tom Ford tux on the red carpet. Daniel Craig also wore a Tom Ford tuxedo in the latest James Bond movie Skyfall.
Manolo Blahnik
Spanish fashion designer Manuel Manolo Blahnik Rodriguez introduced stilettos in the early 1970s at a time when platforms and chunky heels were the fashion of the day. In the popular TV show Sex and the City, Blahnik shoes are the favourites of the lead character Carrie Bradshaw.
Prada footwear
The Milan-based brand is synonymous with fashion and luxury. Set up in 1913, Prada makes luxury handbags, leather goods, footwear, ready-to-wear apparel, accessories, eyewear and fragrances. The Prada group also owns some smaller brands like Miu Miu, Car Shoe and Church's.
Tod's shoes
Tod's began as a small cobbling business of Filippo Della Valle in Le Marche, Italy, in the early 1900s. Today, the Driving Moccasin, or simply the loafer, is the most famous Tod's product, and is known for its craftsmanship and high-quality leather. It comes in a wide colour palette and has an elite customer base.
Christian Dior handbag
French designer Christian Dior opened his first store in 1946. One of the most well-known products from the fashion house is the Princess Diana-inspired Lady Dior handbag made in the Cannage pattern by stitching geometric grids into lambskin.
Roberto Cavalli outfits
Italian designer Roberto Cavalli, who introduced printing on leather in 1970, is best known for exotic and animal prints. Hilary Duff, Beyonce, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shilpa Shetty have been known to sport Cavalli outfits.
