Brand Financial and Global Finance rank the world's most powerful fashion brands for 2018

Brand Financial, a London-based brand valuation firm with 20 offices worldwide, annually ranks the 500 most powerful global brands. For 2018, Amazon leads, followed by Apple, Google, and Samsung. The first apparel brand, Nike, appears at 40th (down 13 spots), with H&M at 72nd. Global Finance created a separate top-50 fashion list, topped by Nike, then H&M, Zara, and Adidas—two sportswear and two fast-fashion brands. Cartier ranks fifth, Hermès sixth (surpassing Vuitton at seventh), Gucci ninth, Prada 18th, and Armani 20th. In response to Vuitton's relative decline, LVMH appointed Virgil Abloh, the black designer of Off-White known for Nike special editions, as men's artistic director in March 2018. This move signals the industry's shift toward streetwear and diversity.