Your obsession with Nike's Cortez sneakers, H&M's on-trend and affordable clothing, and Zara's end-of-season sales is pretty valid, CGs—and there are numbers to prove it.
Brand Finance, a leading consulting firm that uses marketing and finance to help brands move forward, just released its annual Best Global Brands report, with a section dedicated solely to apparel and fashion brands. In a press release, the company explains:
"Brands are first evaluated to determine their power / strength (based on factors such as marketing investment, familiarity, loyalty, staff satisfaction and corporate reputation) and given a corresponding letter grade up to AAA+. Brand strength is used to determine what proportion of a business's revenue is contributed by the brand, which is projected into perpetuity to determine the brand’s value."
Of the 50 that made the cut, here are the top 10 most valuable apparel brands in the world:
1. Nike
Nike is at the top spot once more, with a brand value of $31.76 billion (from $28 billion in 2016) and a rating of AAA+, the only apparel brand to earn that grade. It is also the third most powerful brand across all sectors.
2. H&M
The Swedish fast fashion giant maintains its second place ranking, with $19.17 billion in brand value.
3. Zara
One of our favorite stores for runway-inspired trends, Spanish high street retailer Zara has a brand value of $14.39 billion.
4. Louis Vuitton
The French fashion house is the only designer label in the top 5, with a brand value of $13.18 billion.
5. Adidas
Riding on the success of Yeezys, Superstars, and Stan Smiths, Adidas is valued at $10.16 billion.
6. UNIQLO
Japanese brand UNIQLO, famed for its simple, well-made everyday basics, is valued at $9.59 billion.
7. Hermès
The maker of Birkin and Kelly bags has a brand value of $8.34 billion, helping it land the 7th spot.
8. Rolex
The Swiss luxury watch maker climbs from 9th to 8th place with a value of $6.98 billion.
9. Gucci
Gucci's Princetown slippers and Dionysus bags are probably responsible for the label's rise from 12th to 9th place, and a brand value of $6.88 billion.
10. Cartier
The French company's fine jewelry, including those famous Love bracelets, earns them a place in the top 10, with a value of $6.76 billion.
Follow Patricia on Instagram.
