Fashion Name Ideas

The fashion business started up soon after Eve handed the first apple to Adam, but until the middle of the 19th Century, clothing was mostly fitted, patterned, cut, and sewn in the home. The wealthy had seamstresses and tailors to make their clothing, but in general, every socio-economic class wore clothes they made or had made, for themselves. With the advent of cotton mills and steam engines and the migration of rural and village workers to the manufacturing cities of the industrial revolution, ready-to-wear clothing inevitably appeared to replace a time and money-consuming domestic chore.

Today, the fashion industry remains the vanguard of style and luxury, but while the venerable fashion houses of the 20th Century still hold the spotlight in Paris, London, Tokyo, New York, and Milan, and the large department store retailers continue to offer a wide range of economy to luxury ready-to-wear, a new, more focused, niche wear, at times offered exclusively on-line, is revolutionizing the way we buy whatever we wear. The competition is stiff, but the opportunities and rewards can be immense. Choosing the right brand name can make all the difference, and BrandBucket is here to help you with every stylish step of the way.

A great way to gain valuable insight and inspiration for your name ideas is to take a look at businesses that are already established within your industry. The fashion industry is still led by tried and true brands who have kept pace with today's demand for cutting-edge style, quality materials, and workmanship, as well as an exciting range of highly individual designs, expenses, and comforts. Despite this, new and innovative brands are succeeding in capturing both attention and sales. Let's take a look at some of today's venerable fashion businesses and some recent additions to the marketplace, and analyze what makes their brand names tick.


GUCCI
The house of Gucci began as a humble, family-owned, leather goods and accessories store in Guccio Gucci's hometown of Florence, Italy. Today, it is the number one fashion house in the world, but while the size and scope of Gucci have changed almost beyond recognition, its core value remains the same as the day Guccio Gucci opened - quality. Gucci famously said, "The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory." Affixing his name to his fashion empire ensured he never lost that focus, and the name Gucci is still synonymous with superior quality.



NIKE
Fifty years after Gucci opened its doors for the first time, in 1971, the Greek goddess Nike, who personified victory, inspired a sports shoemaker in the Pacific Northwest to change its name from Blue Ribbon Sports to Nike. Today, Nike dominates the sports shoe business with a staggering 62% market share. Interestingly, Nike is perhaps the only business in any industry whose "swoosh" logo and "Just Do It" tagline are as recognizable as its name.



OFF-WHITE
The hottest brand in the business. Edgy, ironic, luxurious, and at times wildly and outrageously priced, OFF-WHITE is less than 10 years old and has partnered with most of the world's top fashion houses, including top-tier Gucci and Nike. Unabashedly precious, OFF-WHITE was named by designer Virgil Abloh for "defining the areas and answers between black and white".



HARRIS REED
Gender fluidity. They/them. Harry Styles on the cover of Vogue in a dress. Harris Reed, *himself gender fluid, designs what he lives - individuality and inclusivity, or, as he defines it, "Romanticism bone nonbinary." Harris Reed embraces beauty and drama in his designs and the simplicity of his name on his luxury brand.
*Note: Harris Reed initially used they/them pronouns, but now prefer he/him.



LVIR
Lvir is a minimalist-luxe South Korean womenswear label featuring loose, light separates styled from men's traditional workwear, and its prices don't pack the sticker punch of most of the other designers on this list. Lvir takes its name from the French ‘la viere,' meaning ‘light,' and their designs, comfortable and luminous, reflect this fashion distinction.



VOZ
Started in Chile, this certified ethical fashion company states that its mission is "to protect the livelihoods, well-being, and cultural values of rural indigenous women globally." Accordingly, they pay living wages for every textile/= and sewn garment They also use sustainable processes and luxury fibers, including baby alpaca and Chilean wool. Their name, which translates as ‘Voice,' is a conscious reflection of their commitment and core values.

There are many effective ways to come up with great name ideas for a business. Here are a few that we at BrandBucket use often, along with BrandBucket name ideas that you can purchase immediately, or use as inspiration for other great fashion name ideas.

Try Word Association

To generate fashion name ideas effectively, first brainstorm words related to the industry you are in. This will help you broaden your horizons when it comes to naming possibilities. The best way to find the perfect name for your fashion business is to come at the subject from different angles, giving you the greatest diversity of results.

Having helped thousands of entrepreneurs find the best name for their business, Brand Bucket has a good idea of what people are looking for in a name. Here are some name ideas for fashion-related words that strike a chord with me today: quality, sporty, edgy, fluid, and haute.

The name ideas that work for you will depend on the specific type of fashion business you are in. Here are a few of the many categories of fashion businesses, along with some relevant name ideas.

Haberdashery/Men's Clothes

In the US, a haberdasher sells men's clothing and accessories. (In Britain, it refers to what North Americans would call a fabric store.) A haberdashery might limit itself to ties, socks, hats or caps, and perhaps cufflinks and wallets. A more comprehensive retailer could offer everything from undergarments to suits and even tuxedos and shoes. Whatever the range of goods, haberdasheries typically have a very traditional, masculine, atmosphere. My search for "haberdashery" only generated three names, so I amended my search to "men's clothing" which yielded excellent results.

Bridal designers were hit hard by Covid-19, but they are back now that restrictions are lifting - because after all, brides will never go out of fashion. Thanks to shows like "Say Yes to the Dress" today's brides are well-informed and tend to have a fairly set idea about their perfect dress. It's a crowded field for newcomers, but even wedding gowns are sold online, making the playing field a little more even.

Jewelry Stores

Stone amulets and seals have been traced to the great Mediterranean civilizations going back to 3000 BC. More than just an enhancement of beauty for the wearer, jewelry has carried spiritual and natural meanings in its design. Throughout written history, both men and women have used jewelry to make a personal and public statement of their beauty and beliefs.

Ethical Boutiques

Gender fluidity, indigenous design and creation, and the growing awareness and rejection of mass production that arguably afflicts and abuses workers in developing nations have resulted in the corresponding rise of smaller, more humane, and environmentally friendly fashion design and manufacturing. Today, the consumer preferring and actively seeking ethical fashion no longer inhabits the fringe of fashion choice. In response, ethical boutiques are appearing in the shops and malls of mainstream America.

Fashion name ideas you can purchase instantly

You can use this list of top-tier brand names as inspiration, or you can purchase instantly with just a few clicks. All of our names come with a matching .com domain name, and a professionally designed logo, so you will have a fully realized brand name right out of the box. Purchase the name you like by clicking on it, or browse more names to find your brand idea.

Tips for Coming Up with Name Ideas

Know your Brand

Before you start generating name ideas, you want to have a clear picture of what your brand is all about, and what you want it to convey. You can accomplish this by answering a few key questions about your business's purpose, your target market, and your brand's intended style and tone. The answers to these questions will form a succinct version of a brand brief. Use this brief as a reference when coming up with name ideas.

• What does your company do? (Describe your business and the products and/or services that you will provide.)
• Who is your target market? (Who is the intended customer for your product/service?)
• What is Your company's mission statement? (Don't just put "to sell x products. This is your company's raison d'etre, its overarching purpose or mission, not specific to a single product)
• What are your brand's style and tone? (What is your brand's personality/voice? Is it fun, innovative, hip, classic, etc..)
• What does your brand aspire to? (Hopefully, your brand will grow over time. What do you envision it becoming when it is fully realized?)
• What is your value proposition? (What is the key factor that differentiates yourself within your industry? Among your competitors?)

Think Outside of the Box

A common trap many first-time entrepreneurs fall into when naming their business is that they come in with a preconceived set of ideas about what their name should be. This usually results in some dry, over descriptive name ideas, often containing a single keyword the entrepreneur has fixated on.

For instance, there is nothing wrong with using the word "fashion" in your name if it's a really good fit, but every name idea you generate shouldn't be just "fashion"+ random word. Having all your name ideas revolve around a single word leads to repetitive, unoriginal names that can stifle your naming process from the start.

Plus, overly descriptive words just aren't the naming standard among successful companies. According to Crowdspring, 72% of the top brands are named after made-up words or acronyms.

Does that mean your brand name needs to be made up to be successful? No, many brands are successful with keyword names as well!

It just means that you should think outside the box when it comes to the styles and types of names you are open to considering. Casting a wider net name-wise will exponentially increase your options and your chances of finding the perfect name for your business along with it.

Follow Business Naming Best Practices

Every business name is unique, but the great ones do share some common linguistic traits. Here are a few that we think are important.

Great business names are:

• Super catchy and memorable - Your name should capture attention immediately, and stick in people's heads for as long as possible.
• Easy to pronounce and to spell - This makes it easier for people to understand and recall your name, and to tell their friends about it.
• Unique yet familiar linguistically - You want your name to stand out in a crowd, yet not be so different that it confuses people.
• Right fit for your specific industry - The vegan industry has a different style or tone than the tech industry, and you want to take that into account when naming your business.
• Speak to something important to your brand identity - Make sure your brand name speaks to some aspect of your brand. This could be as simple as the vibe you want your brand to have, or it could highlight your business's differentiating characteristics, value proposition, etc.

Make Sure Your Name Can Expand with You

Great brand names not only highlight your business's initial products or services. They are also broad enough to grow with your brand as it expands.

For instance:

"Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation" may be memorable as an awkward mouthful, but it did not reflect its global lifestyle rebranding, so they officially shortened their name to PVH Corp. Owning labels including Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, the PVH moniker ushers them boldly into the 21st Century.

"Amazon" started as an online bookstore, but their brand name doesn't limit them to their beginnings. Rather, it points to their aspirations to become an e-commerce solution with vast scale and an amazing variety of products.

These broad names are generally harder (and pricier) to acquire than longer, more specific names like "Fargo Flats for Females." You may be thinking "I'm just a small, local, women's casual shoe store, why do I need a fancy expansive name?"

Firstly, don't sell yourself or your business's potential short. Why limit your options? You don't know where you are going to be in a few years, how you'll expand, what new areas of a business opportunity may reveal themselves over time. Your brand name will be with you forever if you do it right. If you don't, you'll have to rebrand, which is almost always much costlier than just picking the right name in the first place.

Secondly, businesses that aspire are more likely to catch fire. Humans aspire, and they want the companies they align themselves with to aspire as well. So even if you don't have big plans for your business, you want to give your customers the impression that you do, and show them that you are on the same level as your competitors, who do.

The fact is that thinking expansively and dreaming big when coming to your business name is just a good brand strategy, and you should incorporate it regardless of your immediate plans for your business.

Make Sure the Matching .com Domain is Available

If you plan on doing business online, you'll want a matching .com domain for your business name. Dot-com domains are often more expensive to acquire than other domain extensions, but they are worth it. Why do you need the .com, as opposed to another domain extension such as .net or .shop? Here are a few reasons why:

Reputability - One of the first indicators is your domain extension. If they see a TLD they aren't familiar with, they are less likely to trust the website, and the business it represents.

Authority - Dot-com domains are perceived as a status symbol because of their scarcity and relatively high price tag. Having a .com domain signals to your customers that your business is established enough to have a valuable asset (the .com version of your brand name) representing it.

Familiarity - .com is the most intuitive domain extension. When the internet launched, the ".com" became a defining term in the zeitgeist and has stuck, so much so that it is almost a brand in itself. When you tell someone the name of your business, they will automatically assume the domain extension is .com.

BrandBucket's marketplace has a truly humongous selection of business names, and ALL of them are great. No more momentum-crushing bad name ideas. No more dead-ends. No more second-guessing. You'll find the perfect name for your business in no time, and even enjoy the creative process.