Go beyond Levi’s

Why are UGG boots named like that? 12 clothing brand names explained

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Clothing brands are often founded by creative individuals who strive to express themselves through their designs. As such, they also need names that communicate that same sense of inspiration—this time, through words. From cryptic acronyms like ASOS to personal nicknames like Lacoste, the following 12 clothing brand names have interesting meanings and stories behind them. Did you know any of these?

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Acronyms are a common choice for brand names, and ASOS is no exception to this rule. The name stands for "As Seen On Screen," a reference to the brand’s original concept: allowing people to shop for clothes similar to what celebrities wore on TV and in films.

Over time, users began referring to the company simply as "ASOS," and the abbreviation caught on, prompting the company to adopt it officially.

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The clothing brand Rag & Bone takes its name from the 19th-century expression "rag-and-bone man," which referred to men who scavenged for discarded items like rags, bones, and other scraps that could be reused or sold.

The founders chose the name to reflect the brand’s aesthetic—a blend of classic tailoring and utilitarian workwear.

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Some brand names aren’t rooted in meaning but are chosen simply for their aesthetic appeal. Such is the case with J. Crew. The company’s f**ounder liked the word "crew"**—it evoked a sporty, collegiate image—and added the initial "J" to give the name a classic, preppy feel.

The result was a brand name that sounded established and aspirational. The rest is history.

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Originally created as the name of a store rather than a clothing brand, Supreme was never registered as a trademark in its early days. Nevertheless, it evolved into a massively successful brand in its own right.

As the owner stated in interviews, the brand developed organically, without a formal business plan or grand ambitions—but it eventually grew into the global streetwear icon it is today.

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In the 1960s, Australian surfers began wearing sheepskin boots similar to those worn by farmers, casually referred to as "ugly boots." Inspired by this idea, Brian Smith designed his own version of a leather boot to keep his feet warm after surfing and changed the word ugly to UGG.

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The Lacoste brand was founded in 1933 by French tennis player René Lacoste, who was nicknamed "The Crocodile" for his tenacity on the court. Inspired by this moniker, he and his business partner began selling tennis shirts featuring a distinctive crocodile logo—one of the first instances of visible branding in fashion.

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Abbreviations are a popular naming choice for clothing brands, and Moncler is no exception. The outerwear company’s name comes from the abbreviation of Monestier-de-Clermont, an Alpine town near Grenoble, France, where the brand was founded.

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Clothing brands often turn to market research or cultural trends for inspiration, and 7 For All Mankind is no exception. The brand’s name was reportedly inspired by a study suggesting that the average American owns seven pairs of jeans, implying their denim was made for all of them.

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Sometimes, a strong nickname can evolve into a strong brand name—and that’s exactly what happened with Reigning Champ. Originally known in the industry for high-quality fleece production, the company was informally referred to as the "reigning champ" of fleece.

When the team decided to launch their own clothing line, the nickname stuck and became their official brand name.

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The second acronym on our list, Acne, stands for "Ambition to Create Novel Expressions," a concept much more appealing than the skin condition it shares its name with. Originally founded as a multidisciplinary creative collective working in film, production, advertising, and graphic design, the company later launched its fashion division, Acne Studios, which has become internationally renowned.

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The clothing brand Band of Outsiders, founded by designer Scott Sternberg, took its name from the English translation of Jean-Luc Godard’s film Bande à Part. According to Sternberg, choosing the brand’s name was a challenging process, but eventually, the perfect name was found.

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With nautical overtones, Stone Island is the creation of Italian designer Massimo Osti, who sought to capture his adventurous spirit in the brand’s name. After considering many word combinations, he settled on a name that has since become synonymous worldwide with cutting-edge design and innovative garment technology.

Which one do you use?

Ben Franklin created which slang term? 11 idioms with historical origins

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A lot of slang terms and everyday words have surprisingly rich backstories tied to real historical events and practices. From dire situations to the flicker of oil lamps, these expressions once described literal experiences before turning into figures of speech. You probably use quite a few of these, but did you know what they really mean?

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"Run-of-the-mill" these days means something ordinary or unremarkable, like in the sentence: The film on television last night was very run-of-the-mill.

Originally, the phrase referred to ungraded lumber coming straight from a sawmill—nothing selected or special, just the standard output.

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To have a chip on one’s shoulder means acting defensively or aggressively, as if expecting to be mistreated, like in: He’s hard to deal with; he’s always had a chip on his shoulder about his lack of education.

The phrase comes from the old practice of a man placing a wood chip on his shoulder, daring others to knock it off and start a fight.

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The idiom a witch-hunt refers to the unfair pursuit or persecution of people with unpopular views, often without proper evidence.

It comes from real witch-hunts in history, especially in the U.S., where many were accused of witchcraft during periods of mass hysteria.

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The idiom have an axe to grind means having a personal or selfish reason for getting involved in something, as in: I have no axe to grind, I just want to help.

It likely comes from a story Benjamin Franklin told about a man who tricked someone into sharpening his axe under the pretense of curiosity.

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The idiom bark up the wrong tree means to make a wrong assumption or take the wrong approach, like in: You're barking up the wrong tree if you think you can influence the judge.

It comes from raccoon hunting, where dogs sometimes mistakenly barked at the wrong tree, thinking the raccoon was there.

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The idiom on the breadline means living with barely enough money, as in: The widow and her children were living on the breadline.

It dates back to the Great Depression, when the poorest queued for free food at soup kitchens run by groups like the Red Cross and Salvation Army.

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The idiom burn the midnight oil means to work late into the night, often while studying or finishing tasks.

It comes from the time before electricity, when people used oil lamps for light. Though the lamps are long gone, the phrase is still used.

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The phrase make the grade means to meet a required standard or succeed, though many assume it comes from school.

But it originates from railroads, where powerful trains had to climb steep gradients—if they reached the top, they "made the grade."

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The idiom show your true colors means to reveal your real character or intentions, often after hiding them.

It comes from pirate ships that sailed under false flags to trick their targets, only raising their true flags when ready to attack.

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The idiom the time is ripe means the moment is ideal for action or change, drawing from the image of perfectly ripe fruit: sweet and ready, but quick to spoil if missed.

Martin Luther King Jr. used this phrase in his 1968 speech Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution to stress the urgency of social action.

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The term basket case began during World War I, referring to soldiers who lost all four limbs and had to be carried in baskets.

Over time, it came to describe someone seen as helpless, overwhelmed, or mentally unstable, often due to extreme stress or anxiety.