DALLAS, Aug 5, 2006/ FW/ --- Last June, BusinessWeek/Interbrand released its annual ranking of the 100 Best Global Brands and France’s Louis Vuitton was listed as #17, the highest rank for fashion brands on the list.

According to BusinessWeek/Interbrand, the world’s top brand is Coca-Cola, followed by Microsoft and IBM as the three U.S. companies are listed as the top three. In fact, 7 of the top ten brands are American companies. Coca-Cola, Microsoft, IBM, GE, Intel, Nokia (Finland), Toyota (Japan), Disney, McDonald’s and Mercedes-Benz (Germany) round up the top 10.

Louis Vuitton made it on the top 20, and only one of the two fashion brands that appeared on the top 50 companies. Gucci was ranked #46.

Gap & L’Oreal were listed at #52 and #53, respectively. Still, with their market positioning, it is hard to put them on the ‘high fashion’ category.

Other high fashion companies on the list are: Chanel (#61), Hermes (#81), Cartier (#86), Bulgari (#95), Prada (#96), Armani (#97) and Burberry (#98).

Nike and Adidas, though technically sports companies also delve into high fashion with their collaborations with fashion designers were ranked #31 and #71, respectively.

Avon and Nivea, beauty products companies were listed as #62 and #99, respectively, while Zara, Spain’s retail store chain dedicated to affordable fashion was ranked #73.

Rolex, purveyor of precision chronographs was ranked #72, and Tiffany & Co., famous for their exquisite jewelry was ranked #82.

Korea’s LG, known for its mobile phones and appliances was ranked #94. Yet, unknown to many, LG has a big fashion group and owns the best-known accessories line in Korea.

Levi’s is still the top ranked jeans company, with its #100 ranking in the 100 Best Global Brands.

The brand ranking was based on a brand valuing method that Interbrand pioneered nearly 20 years ago and has since used to value more than 4,000 brands. Brand value is calculated as the net present value of the earnings that the brand is expected to generate and secure in the future for the time frame from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006.

In order to be included in the top global brands list, a brand must have a minimum brand value of $2.7 billion, achieve about one third of their earnings outside of their home country, have publicly available marketing and financial data, and have a wider public profile beyond their direct customer base.

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton