The Brand Names You Should Know How to Pronounce 

We base the love of our clothing on a lot of different categories; quality, price, origin. How about pronunciation difficulty? We’ve gone through years and years of ogling over brands we have no idea how to pronounce. And you know who’s to blame? The internet and rappers.

We see the name on our favorite websites, fuck up the pronunciation in our heads and move on with our happy #menswear-filled lives. And then, rappers make it even worse by giving their own interpretation of the brand name’s pronunciation, often in jest or to keep their rhyme scheme tight. So before you buy your next piece of clothing, make sure you can say it correctly to that store manager helping you out before you completely embarass yourself. 

Vetements

Pronunciation: Vet-MAHN

Although Demna Gvasalia is no longer at Vetements, it’s never too late to start pronouncing the brand’s name correctly. Vetements, also the word for “clothing” in French, is not pronounced like “tenements.” It is pronounced like “Vet Mawn.” A good mnemonic device to remember this brand’s pronunciation is to envision a Vet mowing a lawn, in an oversized Vetements hoodie.

Sacai

Japanese pronunciation: Suh-Kah-E; Western pronunciation: Suh-Kai

This is a tricky one because the Western pronunciation of Sacai, “Suck-eye,” rolls of the tongue so well. But seeing how Chitose Abe’s maiden name is Chitose Sakai, Sacai is likely pronounced the same way as her Japanese last name. The Japanese do not pronounce the “I” in ”“Sakai” as “eye.” It is pronounced as “E.” So in Japanese, Sacai is “Suh-Kah-E.”

Aimé Leon Dore 

Pronunciation: Ay-may Lee-on Door 

First of all, what does Aimé Leon Dore even mean? According to an END interview with Aimé Leon Dore’s founder Teddy Santis, the name of the brand was originally supposed to be Aimé–the French word for “love.” But because “Aimé” was already trademarked, Santis added Leon Dore. “Leon” translates into Lion, his father’s childhood nickname. “Dore” is the last syllable of “Theodore,” Santis’ birth name. Although none of this information will help when it comes to pronouncing it correctly, it’s nice to know the brand’s name isn’t just a bunch of French words mashed together. 

Comme des Garcons

Pronunciation: comb-day gar-son (soft “n”)

Have you ever been so worried about butchering a brand name when pronouncing it to a store assistant, you just decided not to even ask about it? Yeah, Comme des Garcons has that kind of effect on people. 

Balmain 

Pronunciation: Ball-mah

Don’t worry about this one because 95 percent of rappers pronounce Balmain wrong. Most Balmain enthusiasts pronounce the French brand as “Ball-Main.” However it’s really produced as “Ball-Mah.” But come on, ain’t no one gonna pronounce that correctly. Shouts out to Kid Cudi for getting it right though. 

Givenchy

Pronunciation: jhee-von-SHEE

Founded in France in 1952, this luxury brand is on the tips of many tongues who know anything about clothing, from bloggers to rappers all over. Just don’t be that douche asking for the “give-en-chee” Shark sweater. 

Saint Laurent

Pronunciation: San-Lo-Ron

Even after Hedi Silmane dropped “Yves,” the most difficult part to pronounce of the brand’s original name, many still mispronounce the brand now known as Saint Laurent.

Stüssy

Pronunciation: Stoo-see

Nope, it is not Sta-see or Stuss-see. Even though Stussy is now turning 40-years-old, you will always hear one or two people mispronounce the brand’s name. 

Bode

Pronunciation: Boh-Dee

Emily Bode is rising in popularity, so it’s time to start pronouncing her name right before you embarrass yourself when commenting on someone’s patchwork drip. Bode is not pronounced like the word found inside the dictionary. It is “Bow-Dee.” An easy mnemonic device for this brand’s pronunciation is to think about how the prices for Bode are OD. 

Raf Simons

Pronunciation: Răf-Sym-Mons

If you are a fan of ASAP Rocky, you likely know how to pronounce this designer’s name correctly because Rocky got it right when he dropped that banger “RAF.” But for those who pronounce Raf like “Wraith,” or Simons like the name of the American Idol judge, you’ve got it wrong all these years. Please don’t touch my Raf.

So here are a few brands that we mispronounce most of the time.

Hope this helps you all

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