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Blog / Marketing tips / Clothing Brand Logo Design Principles + 15 Cool Logos for Your Inspiration

Marketing tips

Clothing Brand Logo Design Principles + 15 Cool Logos for Your Inspiration

Clothing Brand Logo Design Principles + 15 Cool Logos for Your Inspiration
Katrina Resne

By Katrina Resne

17 min read

Looking for clothing brand logos to get inspired from? You’ve come to the right place.

A well-designed clothing brand logo is timeless, memorable, clean, and versatile. As the face of a brand, it creates the first impression for potential customers. A distinct clothing logo helps people easily recognize and recall a brand. Plus, great clothing brand logos encapsulate the brand’s unique identity, values, and aesthetic.

If you’re wondering how to start a clothing brand with an awesome logo, exploring existing clothing logos will give you valuable inspiration and knowledge. In this blog post, you’ll learn the must-know clothing brand logo design principles and discover streetwear, sportswear, and luxury fashion logos to get some ideas from.

It’s time to design a unique logo that’ll leave a lasting impression and is sure to be remembered in the fashion industry.

Clothing brand logo design principles

The clothing logo, though small, carries substantial information in its design about your clothing business. A custom logo signifies the brand’s dedication to quality and attention to detail. Alternatively, a poorly-designed or generic logo may give the impression of carelessness or an attempt to copy other clothing brands.

To design your clothing brand logo thoughtfully, let’s start with some basic design principles.

  • Include symbolism and meaning

When creating a clothing brand logo, think of what you want it to represent. Does your clothing business stand for freedom and creativity or does it embody elegance and simplicity? Write down all the words that come to mind and make sure your clothing brand logo communicates them through design.

To explore the meaning or symbolism behind colors, font styles, and other design elements, a quick Google search can provide valuable insights. For example, learning color psychology can help you better select the right tones for your clothing brand logo.

  • Reflect brand identity

A custom logo is part of a fashion brand’s identity. Its purpose is to forge a strong visual association with the brand. You can create this association with a particular style, color palette, and typography that evokes certain feelings aligned with your messaging and target audience.

  • Keep it simple

“Good design is as little design as possible,” - Dieter Rams, Ten Principles for Good Design

A simple design doesn’t have to be boring or neutral. But it does have to be easy on the eyes and clearly highlight all the most important elements. A busy clothing logo design poses the risk of your fashion brand message getting lost, misunderstood, or completely overlooked.

  • Avoid small details

When it comes to clothing logo designs, steer clear of small details. Not only are these intricate elements challenging to print or embroider, but they won’t be seen when scaled down or reproduced in certain sizes. Opting for simpler and more prominent design elements ensures your clothing logo remains visible and effective across various applications. Remember, clarity is more important than complexity. 

  • Test its versatility

A good clothing brand logo is versatile enough to be used across various platforms and mediums like clothing labels, websites, social media, packaging, etc. It should be scalable, recognizable, and adaptable to different sizes and formats without losing its impact. Once you have different versions of your clothing brand logo, you can test it out by changing its size.

Fashion brands often have shorter and longer clothing logo design variations. A shorter, more compact logo could be a symbol, illustration, or single letter. Alternatively, the longer version can include the complete clothing brand name and additional logo elements (if there are any).

  • Update it over time (if needed)

As your clothing business evolves, your unique logo should reflect its growth and changes. It can showcase the brand’s progress, maturity, and direction. A refreshed clothing logo can help you connect with new demographics or expand your customer base. If you’ve made changes to other aspects of your brand, like your product line or messaging, updating your own logo helps maintain consistency.

At the moment, many fashion brands are embracing more creative logo design options. They’re going back to their roots or using unique and imaginative fonts. Take Burberry as an example, which recently underwent a logo change. Burberry launched its new logo with an antique, almost hand-drawn font style and reintroduced its iconic knight graphic featuring the brand’s motto, “prorsum,” which means “forward.”

Burberry logo

Source: Burberry

15 famous clothing brand logos for your inspiration

Taking inspiration from fashion powerhouses, successful streetwear brands, and athleisure clothing businesses is not about copying or imitating. It’s about tapping into their genius and infusing your own unique vision. By studying their clever use of color, typography, symbolism, and simplicity, you gain useful information to create your own clothing logo.

These fashion brands have captured their essence in a single emblem. Now it’s your turn to harness that same creative energy. Check out these iconic examples for ideas on crafting the perfect clothing logo.

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Streetwear clothing brand logos

Streetwear clothing brand logos embody the spirit and attitude of the brand. They aim to create a visual identity that’s instantly recognizable to capture the attention and loyalty of their target audience.

A common characteristic of streetwear clothing logos is their bold and edgy aesthetic. Streetwear logos often feature strong, eye-catching typography, unique letterforms, and unconventional design elements. They tend to embrace minimalism or go for designs that reflect urban culture, street art, and graffiti. Streetwear clothing logos frequently have vibrant and contrasting colors to add an energetic and dynamic feel. 

These clothing logos share a distinct urban-inspired style that sets them apart from traditional fashion branding. Examining streetwear brand logos will help you unearth the origins, inspirations, and messages they convey—and help you design an authentic clothing logo for your own business.

BAPE (A Bathing Ape) is a Japanese streetwear brand established in 1993.

BAPE logo

Source:  A Bathing Ape

About the logo

The brand’s founder, Nigo, drew inspiration from the movie Planet of the Apes and the Japanese idiom “A bathing ape in lukewarm water” (the phrase is used to describe somebody who overindulges) to create the BAPE name and logo.

The BAPE logo is playful, straightforward, and memorable. The founder chose an abstract symbol of an ape’s head in yellow and brown to tell the brand’s story. Yellow tends to represent clarity, happiness, and freshness, while brown evokes reliability, security, and honesty. The ape signifies confidence, fearlessness, and independence.

Takeaway

Taking inspiration from personal connections can lead you to a unique, creative logo idea.

Golf Wang (commonly shortened to Golf) is an American streetwear brand founded in 2011 by American musician Tyler, the Creator.

GOLF logo 1

GOLF logo

About the logo

The Creator is known for his artistic and unconventional style, and the Golf Wang logo reflects that aesthetic. The Golf Wang logo exudes a sense of fun, youthfulness, and creativity. It features the word “Golf” on a yellow contrasting background. The typography is bold, geometric, and without serifs. (Serifs are small, decorative strokes or lines added to the ends of the main strokes of letters in typography.) And the letters are written in vibrant colors, each in a different color.

Takeaway

When designing a logo, select colors and fonts that align with your brand’s vibe and attitude. If you want to make a personal branding statement, incorporate elements that reflect your artistic style and personality.

Palace is a London-based skateboarding and clothing brand established in 2009.

Palace logo

Source: Palace

About the logo

One of the founders had a clear idea of how the brand logo should look: huge, visible, and recognizable. He turned to a graphic designer named Fergus “Fergadelic” Purcell who was inspired by the iconic Penrose triangle. The Penrose triangle is also known as the impossible triangle, first painted by Swedish artist Oscar Reutersvärd. The graphic designer was fascinated by the fact that the triangle creates an optical illusion of infinite shape. So the Tri-Ferg was born, with the Palace lettering on each side of the figure.

Since 2009, the logo has remained unchanged but revisited and reimagined for collaborations and collections. The Tri-Ferg has decorated Palace skateboards, clothes, home accessories, brand stores, and pop-ups.

Takeaway

To make a timeless and versatile logo, create a design that can be adjusted to fit collaborations and different design themes.

4. Stüssy

Stüssy is a streetwear brand with laidback, free-spirited branding. 

Stussy logo

Source: Stüssy

About the logo

The Stüssy logo is handwritten by the founder Shawn Stüssy. Although sort of tricky to read, it has become an iconic symbol for the brand. Since the company’s original product was associated with extreme sports (surfing), the logo has sharp, angular, and jerky lines. Along the edges, the lines create wavy ripples that resemble waves. These are the actual black marker traces that were used to make the prototype of the logo. The smart use of typography connects with the streetwear products they sell.

Takeaway

Choose the right typography to create a logo that reflects your brand’s aesthetic and resonates with your target audience.

5. Off-White™

Off-White™ is an apparel, accessories, footwear, and homeware brand established in 2013 by Virgil Abloh.

Off White logo

Off White logo 1

Source: Off-White

About the logo

Off-White™ has a single logo along with a few icons. The logo features the brand name and a TM symbol that’s used with trademarks that are not yet registered. The font is clean, minimalistic, and easy to read.

Virgil Abloh has been accused of plagiarism many times, though, for both the brand name and some of its well-known symbols (arrows and stripes). The brand logo and its symbols look like signs in the Glasgow airport designed for the British Railway system. Alternatively, this branding could come from a font called Rail Alphabet, a version of which is called off-white. It’s believed that Virgil Abloh and the Off-White™ team drew inspiration from these elements to create the brand logo.

Takeaway

When finding inspiration from existing designs, it’s important to interpret them in your own unique way. If you’re not sure about the originality of your clothing logo design, conduct research and check for similar registered designs to avoid any issues.

Sports and athleisure clothing brand logos

Sports and athleisure fashion brand logos reflect the energetic and dynamic nature of the industry. The logos are clean, streamlined, and straightforward. 

Many logos incorporate abstract symbols or icons that represent movement, speed, or strength. They often have bold, strong typography to convey power, energy, and athleticism that resonates with the fitness community. Bright and vibrant colors, like reds, blues, and yellows, are commonly used in sports and athleisure logos to evoke energy, enthusiasm, and excitement.

If you have an activewear brand or you’re starting a fitness clothing line, it’s useful to look at similar brands in the fashion industry and analyze their logos.

The North Face is one of the leading US outdoor brands founded in 1968.

The North Face logo

The North Face logo 1

Source: The North Face

About the logo

For the first 3 years, The North Face didn’t have a distinctive logo. It was only in 1971 that David Alcorn, a designer from California, came up with the emblem that has been with the company ever since.

The North Face logo features the brand’s name in simple, easy-to-read sans serif font. The graphic is made of 3 arched lines which stand for the Half Dome mountain peak in California. The Half Dome is located in Yosemite National Park, California, and holds significance for outdoor enthusiasts and climbers. This detail connects to the brand’s mantra “Never stop exploring” and its target audience of adventure enthusiasts. Originally, the logo was in black and white. In 2010, the color palette was changed to red and white, representing physical energy and courage.

Takeaway

Incorporate elements that resonate with and are recognized by your target audience.

Patagonia is an American outerwear and sportswear brand created by mountaineer Yvon Shuinar in 1973.

Patagonia logo

Patagonia logo 1

Source: Patagonia

 

About the logo

Patagonia has had only one logo: the company name written in lowercase letters with slight serifs. It’s been combined with different graphics over the years which shows its versatility and timelessness.

Originally, the Patagonia logo had an element of the South American landscape—Mount Fitz Roy. Around the landscape there were inscriptions like “built to endure,” “Patagonia,” and “since 1973.” Later on, additional simpler logos were developed. They had a mountain in black or blue, and one version featured a background with blue, violet, and orange stripes, resembling a sunset.

Takeaway

Use symbolic elements in your logo to communicate your brand’s values and mission.

Fila is a sportswear company with Italian roots that started in 1911. A family-owned company that once was a textile manufacturer in the Alps, the brand now offers sportswear, sneakers, and tennis apparel worldwide.

FILA logo

FILA logo 1

Source: FILA

About the logo

The current Fila logo was introduced in the 1980s. Fila was named after its founders, whose surnames were Fila. The logo consists of letters drawn specifically for Fila—with thick lines and round edges, the logo shows the dynamics and active movement the brand stands for. The main colors of the Fila brand and logo are red and blue, which are associated with energy and reliability. 

Takeaway

Consider colors and font styles commonly used in your industry for your logo design to effectively communicate what your brand sells.

Lululemon is a sportswear retailer from Canada founded in 1998.

lululemon logo

Source: lululemon

About the logo

The logo of lululemon features a stylized “A” resembling the Greek letter Omega, which is a nod to the company’s originally-intended name: “Athletically Hip.” The wordmark of lululemon is written in sleek lowercase letters, making it welcoming and friendly. The logo emblem is small and simple enough to be easily printed on apparel and accessories which is important for any trendy sportswear company.

The retailer’s branding has a combination of red and white that reflects passion and power. The black letters in the logo add a touch of professionalism to balance the bright symbol and make it more serious. 

Takeaway

Think about where you’ll be placing your logo. Does it need to be printed, seen from afar, or be easily noticeable on clothing? Take these things into consideration when designing it.

Gymshark is a British sportswear company. It began as a startup and in 2020 achieved Unicorn status when its value exceeded a billion dollars.

Gymshark logo

Source: Gymshark

About the logo

The original Gymshak logo was a circle emblem with a muscular shark graphic. Once Gymshark became popular, the logo needed a reboot.

They hired an experienced logo designer, Martin Williams, to create a minimal-yet-powerful visual sign. It consists of the brand’s name with a sharp-nosed shark’s head. The shark on the logo reflects its shark-like approach to marketing. The shark is also the embodiment of anger, aggression, and danger which is associated with sports excitement. The letters in the Gymshark logo are bold and capitalized, without serifs.

Takeaway

The evolution of a business can prompt changes in branding, including the logo, so stay flexible.

Luxury clothing brand logos

When it comes to luxury fashion houses, their logos hold the key to their rich heritage and captivating brand stories. Luxury fashion logos carry a sense of history, sophistication, and timeless elegance. They represent the legacy and craftsmanship of the fashion houses they belong to. Beyond mere designs, these logos have become synonymous with luxury, status, and impeccable style.

Symbolism and brand story are integral to luxury fashion logos. Some brands have embraced transformations while others have remained faithful to their original designs. When exploring luxury fashion logos, we’ll focus on their origins. Discovering their stories can help you gain ideas on how to create your own clothing logo.

Louis Vuitton was originally founded in 1854. It’s one of the oldest fashion houses still in operation today. When Louis Vuitton passed away, his son Georges inherited the fashion brand. He created the “LV” monogram in honor of his father.

Louis Vuitton logo

Louis Vuitton logo 1

Source: Louis Vuitton

About the logo

The monogram is surrounded by different motifs, each symbolizing something important for the brand: the four-point star represents fortune, the four-petal flower represents joy, and the diamond-shaped four-point star represents passion.

George Vuitton trademarked the symbol and set one of the first examples of branding in fashion. The Louis Vuitton logo has changed many times since then, with every new creative director trying to give it a new spin.

Takeaway

Reflect your brand’s history and values in your clothing logo design.

Chanel is a French luxury fashion house founded in 1910 by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel.

Chanel logo

Source: Chanel

About the logo

The logo of the fashion house Chanel is instantly recognizable. It’s bold, elegant, unapologetic, and sophisticated. The Chanel logo truly reflects Coco’s philosophy of “less is more.”

The logo features two “Cs” mirroring each other in a black, simple, and strong font style. During Coco’s time, black was unconventional for social or fashion purposes. It was reserved primarily for mourning and religious attire. However, Coco introduced the “Little Black Dress,” forever associating the color with the brand and challenging societal norms.

There are several stories about the Chanel logo. The double C is commonly known to stand for Coco Chanel. The interlocking design is also reminiscent of the stained-glass windows in the Cistercian abbey where she grew up. The two Cs might also suggest “Chanel and Capel,” named after the love of her life. 

Remarkably, the original design from 1921 remains untouched. The monogram has since become synonymous with the brand. This is a profound testament to the timeless appeal of Chanel’s design aesthetic and image.

Takeaway

Never underestimate the power of simplicity in logo design. Simplicity is timeless, versatile, and adaptable.

Gianni Versace, the founder of the fashion house, was called a creative genius and founded the brand in 1978. Versace is known for its bold, glamorous, and extravagant designs with vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and luxurious materials. 

Versace logo

Source: Versace

About the logo

Originally, Gianni Versace used his name as the logo until 1993. That year, Versace redesigned the logo and introduced the iconic image of the Greek goddess Medusa, which is now globally recognized. He chose Medusa to represent the brand due to his interest in Greek mythology. Because of her beauty, Medusa was cursed by Athena and had a look that could turn people into stone.

Versace wanted to evoke the irresistible allure that Medusa possessed. She represented Versace’s target audience—people with a powerful aura, reminiscent of Greek gods, and embodying ethereal qualities. The unapologetic nature of Medusa’s gaze mirrored Versace's design philosophy of celebrating excess, indulgence, femininity, and sensuality. He envisioned his garments to have a sense of attraction that would reflect beauty and shock. 

Takeaway

Incorporate symbolism and storytelling into your logo to evoke emotions and create a deeper connection with your audience.

14. Hermès

Founded in 1837, Hermès is the oldest luxury brand in the world still in operation today. But its logo was crafted and revealed around the 1940s.

Hermes logo

Source: Hermes

About the logo

The Hermès logo was supposedly inspired by a painting done by the French artist Alfred de Dreux titled “Le Duc Attele, Groom a L’Attente.” The horse in the logo takes center stage, overpowering the human figure. It symbolizes the company’s original mission of crafting goods for use with horses (saddles, bridles, and others). While sometimes accompanied by the company name and headquarters, the logo often stands alone.

The brand’s colors, orange and black, have evolved to hold great significance and are rooted in practicality. The orange hue originates from the brand’s boxes, chosen due to material scarcity during World War II. These colors are integral to the identity of Hermès as a brand.

Takeaway

Attention to detail and precise execution is crucial to design a timeless logo.

Ralph Lauren is a luxury brand often known for their iconic polo shirts. Ralph Lauren, the founder, was inspired by his love of polo and refined, classic American fashion to create a lifestyle brand that captures that.

Ralph Lauren logo

Source: Ralph Lauren

About the logo

The Ralph Lauren logo features a stylized polo player on horseback. It’s connected to Ralph Lauren’s passion for and the brand’s association with the sport of polo. When attending his first polo match, Lauren found inspiration in the leather, horses, ponytails, enormous hats, and wealthy people he saw during the match.

Although he was inspired by polo and American fashion, Lauren didn’t personally design the logo. It was created by Rene Lacoste, a renowned tennis player. The initial version of the logo featuring a polo player was introduced in the mid-1970s. 

The logo design is classic, elegant, and timeless. Ralph Lauren explains: “To me, the polo player has elegance and imagination. It embodies sophisticated luxury and a timeless style.”

Ralph Lauren’s logo is among the few symbols that have kept its visual mark the same for decades. However, the brand uses different variations of its logo depending on its products.

Takeaway

Use visual storytelling to communicate the essence of your brand and create a lasting impression.

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A well-designed logo is crucial in establishing brand identity, recognition, differentiation, credibility, and emotional connection with customers. It’s an essential element in building a successful and enduring fashion brand.

You don’t have to hire a logo designer to create a professional logo. Start with the logo design principles mentioned in this blog post and source ideas from well-received fashion brands to spark your creativity. Then, use graphic design software to design your own clothing logo. Begin your logo design adventure and help your brand get recognized!

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By Katrina Resne on Aug 23, 2023

Katrina Resne

Content Writer Intern

Katrīna is a content writer with a background in Material Technology and Design. She loves the digital world and creating content in visual and written form.

Katrīna is a content writer with a background in Material Technology and Design. She loves the digital world and creating content in visual and written form.