Name Branded: The Best Signature Design Details in Fashion

Image via Complex Original

Coogi Knit Pattern

Brand: Coogi
Design Signature: Colorful vertical-knit patterns

These vibrant sweaters with abstract, vertical patterns made their way into households when Bill Cosby rocked them on "The Cosby Show." You probably didn't know that the knitwear brand has actually been around since 1969, and was created in Australia. You probably do know that rappers like The Notorious B.I.G. and athletes like Floyd Mayweather have also put on a Coogi sweater or two in their day, and you definitely know one when you see one, even if it's bootleg, you instinctively think "Coogi sweater."

Evisu Kamome

Brand: Evisu
Design Signature: Painted seagull on back pocket

When Hidehiko Yamane first founded Evisu Genes in 1991, small production runs allowed him to handpaint the kamome (Japanese for "seagull") on the back pockets of the jeans. Around 2002, the brand gained some traction from the rising demand for premium denim, and co-signs from rappers like Jay-Z. Collaborations with companies like Puma followed, and soon cool guys could recognize their own out in the wild.

Common Projects Serial Numbers

Brand: Common Projects
Design Signature: Individual serial number and size stamped into the shoe

Italian sneaker company Common Projects was one of the forerunners of the luxury sneaker game. Utilizing premium materials, Italian manufacturing, and clean design, they've proved that sometimes the best branding is minimal branding. Each shoe carries a serial number made just for that pair, as well as the European size number.

Thom Browne Grosgrain Detail

Brand: Thom Browne
Design Signature: Red, white, and blue grosgrain detail

American designer Thom Browne helped user in the shrunken suit trend of the mid-2000s. His expensive duds often carried a signature grosgrain red, white, and blue detail. This was exhibited in the button placket of his shirting and polos, and a strap on the backs of shoes, suiting, outerwear, and knitwear items.

Lacoste Crocodile

Brand: Lacoste
Design Signature: Embroidered Crocodile

Frenchman Rene Lacoste earned the nickname "The Alligator" from the American press after losing a hard-fought tennis match, where the winner would receive a alligator-skin briefcase. Upon returning back to his native France, he became "The Crocodile" and had a drawing by his friend embroidered into a blazer. In 1933, Lacoste and his business partner would introduce to the world two things: the short-sleeve pique polo shirt, and the first branded clothing item for men. Preppy guys and fraternity brothers have been carrying on his legacy ever since.

Steven Alan Twisted Placket

Brand: Steven Alan
Design Signature: Twisted shirt placket

Designer Steven Alan took the button down shirt, a menswear staple, and put a real twist on a common wardrobe item. His reverse seam shirt became one of his well-known pieces, and consisted of a twisted placket, French seams on the side, and a slim fit.

Burberry House Check

Brand: Burberry
Design Signature: Tan, black, white, and red "House Check" tartan pattern

Established in 1856 by Thomas Burberry, the brand initially made a name for itself with its hard-wearing trenchcoats made from gabardine, at the time a revolutionary fabric. What really pushed it into pop culture infamy was its tartan "House Check," a tan, black, red, and white pattern that became popular among working class "Chav" youths, who were kind of England's equivalent to 'Lo Heads. In addition, it's one of the most widely copied patterns, with so many people continuing to aspire for a piece of that British luxury. You'll find it on the lining of Burberry's classic trenches and outerwear, as well as button down shirts, scarves, and other accessories.

New Era Flag

Brand: New Era Cap Company
Design Signature: Embroidered "N" over a flag

Although the New Era Cap Company has been pushing out baseball caps since 1920, it wasn't until 1997 that the company concerned themselves with building a strong brand image. That's when they enlisted JDK Design, who created the now-iconic logo of the "N" sitting on top of a flag. It's gone through a couple of revamps since, but the idea has still remained the same, and it's successfully ingratiated itself as an icon of urban, athletic style. It's even been lampooned by cool guy brands like Supreme, and is about to make its first appearance on a proper set of footwear by Mark McNairy.

Vans Logo Heel Tab

Brand: Vans
Design Signature: "Off the Wall" skateboard logo on back of shoe

Making its debut in 1976, Vans' iconic red and white "Off The Wall" logo is a reference to those OG skaters that used to say they were "coming off the wall" when they were riding pools. Since then, it's gained prominent placement at the back of every vulcanized skate shoe the brand manufactures, so that way you can tell if it was meant for being worn on the grind.

Gucci Stripe

Brand: Gucci
Design Signature: Red and green stripe, diamante pattern, double-G logo

Gucci started making handbags at the end of the 19th Century. It differentiated its canvas offerings by combining a double-G logo with a green and red stripe. Another design stamp they often used was an argyle-like Diamante pattern. All three are still in prominent use today, sometimes all together, as is the case with this wallet.

Missoni Patterns

Brand: Missoni
Design Signature: Colorful fabrics in wavy, interlaced patterns

Established by Ottavio "Tai" Missoni, this fashion showed their first collection in 1958. Since then, they've established themselves as stalwarts of colorful geometric patterns, often implementing wavy, triangular shapes that have seeped into their sought-after collaborations with Converse and Target.

Staple Pigeon

Brand: Staple Design
Design Signature: Pigeon

While jeffstaple's brand is relatively young, the effect one single release had on the streetwear community as a whole can't be denied. When the New York-based company released their hotly-anticipated Nike SB Dunk released in 2005, all hell broke loose. Future collaborations with Kangol, New Balance, and Kid Robot have all brought different incarnations of the Staple Pigeon into fruition, and it continues to play a role in the brand identity of Staple Design.

Adidas Three Stripes

Brand: Adidas
Design Signature: Three stripe detail

Since 1949, Adidas has held the trademark for apparel with three stripes. Of course, that's why one of the brand's slogans is "The Brand With the Three Stripes." Implemented into the brand's logo, it's everywhere in the shoes and athletic apparel that they manufacture. It prides itself on branding its gear so much that they've taken sporting organizations to court over restrictions of branding on player clothing.

Maison Martin Margiela Four Stitches

Brand: Maison Martin Margiela
Design Signature: Four-stitch detail

Designer Martin Margiela is known for his subtly avant-garde designs. A contemporary of the highly influential "Antwerp Six" group of designers, he is infamous for keeping a notoriously low profile. This notion is reflected in how he brands his designs. Opting to sew the tag inside the clothes, he leaves four stitches visible on the backs of the garments, while a numbered tag or stamp is actually a code for what line within the brand a particular piece falls into. The stitch detail is even worked into his shoes and accessories, albeit to a lesser extent.

Louis Vuitton Monogram

Brand: Louis Vuitton
Design Signature: All-over monogram pattern

The iconic Louis Vuitton "LV" monogram made its debut in 1896, when the company was under the helm of Georges Vuitton. Inspired by Japanese and Asian designs of the late Victorian era, the LV letters are dispersed amongst florals and quatrefoils. Its original purpose, ironically, was to guard against counterfeiting, which proved effective until Canal Street became a thing, we suppose. Since then, it's gone through a famous, modern re-interpretation by artist Takashi Murakami, although the original brown and tan design remains timeless.

Starter Star 

Brand: Starter
Design Signature: Embroidered "S" with Star

Founded in New Haven, Connecticut in 1971, David Beckerman's Starter clothing line saw a boom in the '80s through the '90s. One of the reasons for its success was their ability to not only make officially-licensed sports apparel, but include the brand's logo in prominent places on the clothing. People noticed it on the backs of ball caps, and jacket sleeves, making stuff covetable not because it repped a certain team, but because it was made by Starter.

Christian Louboutin Red Sole

Brand: Christan Louboutin
Design Signature: Red-soled shoes

Christian Louboutin has painted the soles of his shoes red since 1992. In addition to a subtle branding move, the idea of red soles was to convey sensuality and power. When he started putting designer sneakers in the mix with his high-end pumps, the red soles carried over, as well as a literal signature stamped into the soles. Louboutin is so protective of his red soles that he's recently taken Yves Saint Laurent, who also produced red-soled shoes, to court over the matter.

A Bathing Ape Camo

Brand: A Bathing Ape
Design Signature: Camouflage pattern subtly incorporating the logo

A Bathing Ape first introduced their original camo in 1995, when Skatething designed "Rigid Raid" and "Wood Chip." The following year, it was followed up with Mankey's "Duckhunter Ape," which became the famous design that implemented the BAPE head into a familiar, forest camouflage. Since then, it's made its way onto T-shirts, hoodies, and iPhone cases. It definitely wasn't the last time A Bathing Ape would put its subtle twist on camouflage patterns though. We put together a more comprehensive guide on that.

Chanel Double-C 

Brand: Chanel
Design Signature: Interlocked double-C logotype

Here's a fun fact: the Chanel interlocking double-C logo was actually not designed by Coco Chanel. Rather, it was given to her by the Château de Crémat winery. Despite that, it's become synonymous with expensive purses, luxury, and the desire for the real thing has also taught would-be customers about how to make sure they're getting the genuine article.

Polo Pony

Brand: Polo Ralph Lauren
Design Signature: Embroidered Polo player riding on horse

In 1970, the Polo Ralph Lauren logo made its debut in a collection of womens' suits Ralph Lauren designed. Two years later, he introduced it to the world of menswear via a series of polo shirts. Since then, the pony has seen a variety of sizes and colorways, like the recent "Big Pony" of the 2000s. Despite the fact that Ralph Lauren dropped the "Polo" from his company name last year, "Polo" still remains the brand's flagship line, ensuring the iconic rider and his trusty steed will see many more garments and accessories to come.

Levi's Red Tab and Arcuate

Brand: Levi's
Design Signature: Red tab and arcuate pocket

The Levi's arcuate made its debut on a patent filed on May 20, 1873. Originally called "waist overalls," the first design just had one back pocket with the arcuate stitching. Levi Strauss might have designed these with miners and folks wanting to cash in on the Gold Rush in mind, but he would go on to make his own fortune. As the brand grew, the red tab and arcuates remained largely the same. Some notable changes include World War II, when the jeans makers actually painted the arcuates on in order to save thread during the war effort, and 1971, when the red tab "LEVI'S" was changed to the little e "LeVI'S." Vintage Levi's enthusiasts use that, among many other tactics, to differentiate authentic old jeans from modern reproductions.

Nike Swoosh

Brand: Nike
Design Signature: Swoosh

In 1971, Carolyn Davidson was paid $35 to design a logo for Phil Knight's company, then-called Blue Ribbon Sports. As the story goes, Davidson was so frustrated about not being able to come up with an original design that she drew a check mark on a piece of paper. Years later, Davidson's iconic design has come to represent more than just a sporting goods company. Thanks to Nike's excellent mastery of effective branding and marketing, the swoosh has become the symbol of a company that not only continues to innovate in sports, but is proudly stunted on the streets.