Discover the 10 most expensive brands in the world

The main trends in the fashion world are usually dictated by reputable brands, which offer various products for personal use, such as shoes, clothes and bags that are the dream of many women’s consumption. However, this dream is within the reach of only a few, as some objects of desire, such as the famous Hermès brand “Birkin” bag, made with crocodile leather and diamonds, cost around 240,000 reais. Despite being expensive, the luxury market has already arrived in Brazil and has a list of VIP clients that include celebrities, socialites and businesswomen.

1 – Louis Vuitton

Despite being well known for bags with the brand’s checkered print, the brand was founded by Louis Vuitton in 1854, in Paris, with the sale of leather trunks and pouches. It was only in 1930 that the brand began to manufacture bags and, from then on, it opened numerous stores around the world. Since 1998, the brand’s artistic director is Marc Jacobs, who created a line of women’s and men’s clothing, watches and jewelry. According to the Millward Brown Optimor survey, in 2011, the brand is worth about US$25 billion. The brand has bags ranging from R$2,000 to R$80,000.

2 – Lanvin

Jeanne Lanvin created the brand that bears her name in 1890 in Paris. Before creating haute couture dresses, the Frenchwoman was an apprentice seamstress. In a short time, she won over Parisian women with dresses in shades of blue (known as Lanvin blue) and impeccable finishes. Soon, the stylist opened stores and expanded the brand to the perfumery, sports, decoration and menswear department. Currently, the brand director is Alber Elbanz.

3 – Prada

The Italian brand, which inspired the movie “The Devil Wears Prada”, was founded in 1913 by brothers Mario and Martino Prada, who sold bags and trunks. Currently, the current designer of the brand is Miuccia Prada, great-granddaughter of the founder Mario, and it has gone through numerous modifications over the years. The bags became the darlings of celebrities in the 1980s, and since then, they have been one of the most copied in the world. In the 1990s, the brand created its second line, called Miu Miu, more accessible than the first.

4 – Cartier

The watch and jewelry brand was founded in Paris by Louis-François Cartier in 1847, when he inherited a jewelry atelier in the city. It was Cartier who created the wristwatch in 1904 at the request of Santos Dumont. In 1911, these models began to be marketed and Cartier gained worldwide fame. The watches, made with gold, platinum, diamond and titanium are almost handmade and cost as much as 50 thousand reais. According to a survey by Millward Brown Optimor, in 2011, the brand is worth about US$5 billion.

5 – Chanel

When it comes to elegance and sophistication, one of the most remembered brands in the world is Chanel. Founded in 1910 by Gabrielle Chanel, better known as Coco Chanel, the brand revolutionized the history of fashion, when its founder started to produce more comfortable skirts for women, getting rid of corsets for good. Coco was known for the perfection she brought to her clothes. A reference in style, she created the chemisier dress, the two-tone flats and the Chanel nº 5 fragrance, one of the best sellers in the world. Currently, run by Karl Lagerfeld, the brand remains in the luxury market and is worth about US$7 billion.

6 – Hermes Paris

Founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermès, the French brand began its history by producing harnesses for horses. Over the years, it has changed with the advent of technology. In 1923, the brand launched bags with zippers, which was a novelty at the time. As early as 1929, Thierry’s grandson Émile-Maurice launched the brand’s first women’s collection. But the object of desire of celebrities since the 1940s is leather bags. Grace Kelly, Jack Kennedy, Victoria Beckham and other celebrities have already been clicked with the brand’s models. The Hermès store opened in Brazil in 2009, at Shopping Cidade Jardim in São Paulo. The brand is one of the most profitable in the world, with revenues of US$11.9 billion.

7 – Jimmy Choo

Currently, Jimmy Choo is one of the most well-known shoe designers in the celebrity world. Born in Malaysia, Choo moved to England, where he gained fame and recognition. The stylist is one of the darlings of celebrities and has even worn Princess Diana. Currently, the Jimmy Choo brand belongs to the Labelux Group and the stylist makes shoes to measure and order, with prices that cost an average of 1,500 Euros, around R$4,500.

8 – Gucci

Currently, the brand, which is well known for its bags and belts, is one of the most profitable in the world, with a value of US$7.4 billion, according to a survey by Millward Brown Optimor, carried out in 2011. Founded in 1921 by the Italian Guccio Gucci, the brand began its history with equestrian-themed productions of bags, trunks, gloves, shoes and belts. In the 1960s, it underwent reformulations with the death of the founder and received the “double G” symbol, which characterizes it. In the 1980s, designer Tom Ford took over from Gucci and currently, who runs the brand is the Italian Frida Giannini.

9 – Rolex

Who has never heard of the famous Rolex watches? Symbol of sophistication and status, the brand was founded in 1905 by a German, Hans Wilsdorf, in London. The brand, which at the beginning had the name of Wilsdorf & Davis, became known for the high quality standard of the product. The founder made a point of specifying that his watches were waterproof, damp, dust, heat and cold. There are several stories that try to prove the durability of watches, such as that of a woman who took her watch to the oven at high temperature and it came out unharmed. Truth or myth, the fact is that the brand has established itself as one of the best and most expensive in the business. A Rolex watch can cost around R$2,000 to R$50,000.

10 – Christian Dior

The brand was founded in 1947 by Frenchman Christopher Dior, after having been a fashion assistant to Robert Piguet and Lucien Lelong. Graduated in Social Sciences, the stylist liked to draw and in the 1920s he opened an art gallery. With the crisis of 1929, the business did not resist and Dior realized the talent for creating clothes. In 1946, he opened his own studio in Paris, and by the following year he was already a bestseller among the high society. Gradually, he conquered famous clients, such as Princess Grace Kelly. Currently, John Galliano is the director of the brand, which continues to grow every year.