Some Brands Have Been Dressing People for Centuries
Fashion changes constantly, but a few clothing brands have been around long enough to watch entire trends disappear, return, and pretend they were new ideas. These companies survived wars, recessions, changing tastes, celebrity reinventions, department-store eras, online shopping, and more questionable pants than history should have allowed. Their staying power proves that a strong identity can last far longer than whatever everyone is panic-buying this season. Here are the 20 longest-running fashion brands.
1. Lock & Co. Hatters
Lock & Co. Hatters dates back to 1676, which makes it older than most things people casually call “heritage.” The London hatmaker has dressed royalty, politicians, writers, and plenty of people who simply wanted to look very composed above the eyebrows. Its long life comes from making a specific item exceptionally well.
2. Gieves & Hawkes
Gieves & Hawkes has roots going back to 1771 through Hawkes, with Gieves following in 1785, before the two famous military tailors eventually joined forces. The brand is tied closely to British uniforms, Savile Row tailoring, and the kind of menswear that takes posture seriously. It has dressed soldiers, royals, explorers, and sharply suited gentlemen for generations.
3. John Smedley
John Smedley’s knitwear history reaches back to 1784, making it one of Britain’s great long-running clothing names. The brand became known for fine-gauge knitwear, sweaters, polos, and garments that feel quietly expensive without yelling about it. Its appeal comes from consistency, quality, and a very British commitment to doing one thing well for a very long time.
4. Pringle of Scotland
Pringle of Scotland was founded in 1815 and became famous for luxury knitwear, especially cashmere and argyle. It's managed to feel traditional without becoming frozen in place. The brand’s sweaters and twinsets became part of fashion history while still staying connected to Scottish textile craft.
5. Brooks Brothers
Brooks Brothers was founded in 1818 and became one of America’s most enduring names in menswear. The brand helped shape ready-to-wear tailoring, button-down shirts, suits, and classic preppy style. It's dressed presidents, bankers, office workers, and people who suddenly needed to look responsible by Monday morning.
6. Clarks
Clarks began in 1825 in Somerset, England, and built its name around practical, comfortable footwear. Over time, the brand produced shoes that moved from school corridors to street style, including the famous Desert Boot and Wallabee. Its appeal lies in being wearable without feeling overly precious.
7. Tricker’s
Tricker’s was founded in 1829 and is known as one of Britain’s oldest established shoemakers. The brand built its reputation on sturdy, beautifully made shoes and boots from Northampton, a city strongly linked to English shoemaking. Its country boots and brogues have long appealed to people who want footwear with substance.
8. Hermès
Hermès began in 1837 as a harness workshop before becoming one of the world’s most respected luxury fashion houses. Its early focus on equestrian craftsmanship still shows in the brand’s leather goods, scarves, clothing, and accessories. Hermès has lasted because it treats craftsmanship like a serious long-term commitment.
9. Loewe
Loewe was founded in Madrid in 1846 as a leatherworking collective. Over time, it evolved into a luxury fashion house known for craftsmanship, leather goods, and a modern creative identity that still respects its roots. The brand’s long history gives it weight, while its recent designs keep it from feeling dusty.
10. Aquascutum
Aquascutum began in 1851 when John Emary opened a menswear shop in London and later developed waterproof wool. The name itself means “water shield,” which is wonderfully direct for a brand built on weather-ready clothing. Its coats became linked to British outerwear, military use, and polished practicality.
11. Fruit of the Loom
Fruit of the Loom traces its roots to 1851, when the textile mill behind the brand was established in Rhode Island. It later became one of the most recognizable names in basics, especially underwear, T-shirts, and casual apparel. The brand’s fruit logo is cheerful enough to make socks and undershirts feel oddly memorable.
Warszawska róg Szerokiej w Tomaszowie Mazowieckim on Wikimedia
12. Bally
Bally began in Switzerland in 1851 and became known first for shoes before expanding into luxury fashion, leather goods, and ready-to-wear. Its history is rooted in craftsmanship, but its reach eventually became global. The brand has always had a polished, European feel without needing constant flash.
13. Levi Strauss & Co.
Levi Strauss & Co. was founded in San Francisco in 1853, and its biggest breakthrough came when riveted blue jeans were patented in 1873. The brand helped turn tough work pants into one of the most important garments in modern fashion. Levi’s jeans went from mines and ranches to movie screens, concerts, campuses, and closets everywhere.
14. Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton founded his Paris brand in 1854 as a trunk-maker, long before the LV monogram became a global status symbol. The company’s early success came from luggage that was practical, elegant, and suited to changing travel habits. Over time, it expanded into leather goods, accessories, shoes, and ready-to-wear.
15. Burberry
Burberry was established in 1856 by Thomas Burberry in England. The brand became famous for gabardine, trench coats, and clothing designed to handle British weather with dignity. Its check pattern later became one of the most recognizable fashion symbols in the world.
16. Frye
Frye was founded in 1863 and is often described as America’s oldest continuously operated shoe company. The brand became known for boots with a rugged, lived-in appeal, especially styles tied to workwear, Western dressing, and motorcycle culture.
17. Pendleton
Pendleton’s roots reach back to 1863 through Thomas Lister Kay’s woolen work in Oregon, with the Pendleton Woolen Mills later becoming known for blankets and wool apparel. The brand’s shirts, coats, and patterned wool pieces became strongly tied to American outdoor and heritage style. Its designs often feel practical, warm, and deeply recognizable.
18. Barbour
Barbour began in 1894 in South Shields, England, and built its reputation on waxed cotton outerwear. Its jackets became closely associated with countryside style, bad weather, and people who somehow look elegant while standing in mud. The brand has stayed relevant through function, repairability, and collaborations that introduced it to younger shoppers.
19. Hanes
Hanes started in North Carolina around 1900 as a knitting mill and became one of America’s biggest names in everyday basics. The brand is known for underwear, socks, T-shirts, and the kind of clothing people buy in multiples without overthinking it. Its longevity comes from comfort, familiarity, and the fact that everyone needs reliable basics.
20. Lacoste
Lacoste was founded in 1933 by tennis champion René Lacoste and André Gillier. Its lightweight polo shirt helped change sportswear, and the crocodile logo became one of fashion’s most recognizable symbols. The brand proved that athletic clothing could become everyday style without losing its sporty identity.
