It will seem incredible to you, but there are fashion firms that obsess us today and that have been around for hundreds of years. Sometimes it seems to us that the best time for the world of fashion is now, but some of our houses favorites were born in the 19th century and they have managed to continue reinventing themselves to the present day.
Lily Rose Depp for Chanel Beauty
Brook Brothers (1818)
Henry Sands Brooks opened H.&D.H. Brooks&Co in Manhattan in 1818, forming what is now considered the oldest fashion brand in the world still in operation. In 1850 its name was simplified to Brook Brothers. By the middle of the 19th century they had already introduced the concept of ready-to-wear in America and dressed Abraham Lincoln.
In 1946 it left the Brooks family and was bought by Julius Garfinkel and passed into the hands of Marks&Spencer in 1988. It continued to change owners until 2020 declared bankruptcy after Covid-19 and purchased by Authentic Brands Group.
Hermes (1837)
The house French is the oldest luxury fashion house in the world which still works today. It was founded in 1837 in Paris when Thierry Hermès started designing horse riding accessories (hence its logo). The rest is history, specializing in leather, accessories, clothing, perfumes, jewelery and, of course, bags.
Loewe (1846)
Loewe was born in Madrid in 1846 when a group of Spanish artisans decided to join to make an alliance and avoid ruin and competition. However, it acquired its name when Enrique Loewe joined this guild in 1876. Today it is part of the LVMH conglomerate and is Parisian, but it all started more than 100 years ago.
Levi’s (1853)
The most famous jeans firm began its journey in 1853, when Levi Strauss and his two brothers opened their first headquarters in San Francisco. Be specialized in uniforms denim for minersthe forerunners of the most popular American garment in the world.
Louis Vuitton (1854)
Their beginnings as a craftsman of trunks and suitcases They date back more than 100 years. It was founded in 1854 in Asnières-sur-Seine, with the name of the artist and the monogram that today is recognizable everywhere.
Burberry (1856)
Thomas Burberry opened the firm in Basingstoke in 1856 with the aim of manufacturing garments that protect against the British climate. Hence his famous quilted and waterproof trench coats, trench and rain boots that last to this day.
Lanvin (1889)
The French luxury house was founded by Jeanne Lanvin in 1889, totally focused on designing dresses for mothers and daughters and inspired by the outfits she drew for her daughter Marguerite Marie Blanche. She soon added a menswear line, lingerie and furs to the store to make it the first establishment where you could buy clothes for the whole family.
Chanell (1909)
It was the year 1909 when Gabrielle Coco Chanel began making hats, although this was a fleeting stage and she immediately moved on to the production of women’s clothing comfortable. The Chanel revolution took her to number 31 Rue Cambonwhich has never left.
Prada-1913
Casa Prada was founded in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (Milan) in 1913 by Mario Prada, designer of this leather firm that is among the oldest in the world. It began with the exclusive trade in English fur, but they soon formulated their iconic Saffiano. Today they have given up this material in favor of other more sustainable and animal-friendly.
Balenciaga (1917)
Today it is one of the most irreverent and iconic firms on the market. But the legend began in 1909 in San Sebastian, when the Spanish designer Cristóbal Balenciaga gained popularity among the aristocracy and royalty of the time. He had a hiatus during the Civil War when the artist went into exile in France, but later opened in Paris and continued his legacy.
Gucci (1921)
It may be one of the most recognizable and famous firms in the world. However, Gucci Gucci founded it in 1921 as a suitcase factory for the rich and powerful of Florence. When her son Aldo de Ella took over her reins, he completely transformed her, making her the synonym of sweet life more iconic.
Fendi (1925)
the Fendi house was born as a fur firm in 1925, from the hands of Adele and Edoardo Fendi on the Via del Plebiscito in Rome. For many years it was inherited from generation to generation by the daughters of the Fendi couple until it came into the hands of Karl Lagerfeld in 1965, responsible for the monogram FF logo.
Salvatore Ferragamo (1928)
The designer began as an apprentice shoemaker in Italy and the United States, where he opened a boot shop in Hollywood in 1923. However, it was not until he returned to Florence in 1928 that he started his namesake firm, totally focused on women’s footwear. This same year he also designed the logo that lasts to this day.
Photos | Brook Brothers, Chanel, Hermès, Wikipedia Commons, Levi’s, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Lanvin, Prada, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo.