We know the meanings behind some of your favorite brand names, but what about the origins of their iconic logos?
In Mr Porter’s latest issue of The Journal, the online boutique did some digging and discovered the back stories of some of the world’s most recognizable fashion branding—including everything from the Maison Margiela numerals to the Nike Swoosh. Most of the explanations definitely made sense, while others seemed downright random. Almost like urban myths.
For instance, the Lacoste crocodile logo is said to have been inspired by a fact error in a 1920s newspaper article. As Mr Porter reports, famed tennis player René Lacoste had made a bet with his Davis Cup captain, which involved getting his own alligator suitcase if he defeated Australian tennis player James Anderson. Lacoste lost the match, and the story of the bet quickly made headlines; but reporters had mistakenly replaced “alligator” with crocodile,” writing: “he didn’t get his crocodile suitcase, but he fought like a real crocodile.” That sentence is what inspired Lacoste’s nickname, “le Crocodile,” and his decision to always rock a polo with the animal stitched onto it.
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Mr Porter also tackles the Maison Kitsuné logo, which has a pretty straight-forward explanation: You see, “kitsune” is the Japanese word for “fox,” which is often portrayed as a magical creature in Japanese folklore. The designers were intrigued by the animal’s characteristics, specifically its ability to shape shift, so they decided to emblazon their clothes with a fox. We also learn that the tennis-brand Boast features a Japanese maple leaf on its merch, and not a marijuana leaf like so many people assume.
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You can read the full list of logo back stories inside the 125th issue of The Journal. The piece also includes non-fashion companies, like Apple and Starbucks.
