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When it comes to creating a clothing brand, every single detail matters—whether it is the colors of the shirts, the look of the designs, the materials you use, and even the fonts that you choose! Fonts are not merely there for decoration, they actually reflect your brand’s personality, values, and spirit. It is important to be mindful of choosing the right fonts for your brand that will successfully convey the message that you want to deliver to your audience. Now, the big question is: “How do I choose the right font?” Don’t worry, we are here to help you. This guide is specifically crafted to help you how to pick the best font for your clothing brand:
1. Understanding Your Brand Identity
Before you start picking a font, it is important that you have a good grasp of your brand’s identity. Keep in mind that a font is part of the visual presentation of your brand. So, understanding your brand identity will allow you to choose the right font, making your brand more memorable. Consider the following questions:
- What is the core message of your clothing brand?
Some core messages of clothing brands include the slogans, brand stories, and campaigns. For example, Levi Strauss & Co.’s “Quality never goes out of style” which serves as a promise for their customers that they will always meet their expectations when it comes to the quality of their clothes. What are you promoting? Quality? Sustainability? Think along those lines.
- Who is your target audience?
Identify the target audience of your clothing brand: What is their demographic? What are their needs? What’s their lifestyle like? Understanding your audience’s taste can help you guide your font selection.
- What emotions are you seeking to evoke from your audience?
Consider the emotions or stories associated with your brand. These emotions could include trust, inclusivity, and the like—aim to align your font with these emotions.
Other than guiding you with your font selection, answering these questions will also help you establish a clear brand identity. For example, a luxury clothing line might opt to choose sophisticated typefaces.
2. Understanding Types of Fonts
In choosing fonts, you will come to realize that there are different types of fonts. It is important to understand the differences between these fonts since each font style conveys distinct messages and emotions. Basically, they set the tone for your brand’s communication. Here are the different types of fonts and to which kinds of brands they are associated with:
- Serif Fonts. These fonts are characterized by small lines or strokes at the end of letters. They are often associated with luxury, elegance, tradition, and credibility.
Brands that use serif fonts: Prada and Vogue use serif fonts for timeless elegance. Another example is Abercrombie and Fitch which uses a specific type of serif called Garamond.
2. Sans Serif Fonts. These fonts are characterized without the strokes at the end of letters which is the opposite of serif. They are often depicted as clean, modern, and minimalistic. They are considered to be highly versatile since they work well with most brands, specifically those that are contemporary, sporty, and casual.
Brands that use sans serif fonts: Famous brands like Nike, Adidas, and Uniqlo use serif fonts effectively.
3. Script Fonts. These fonts are often characterized as mimicking cursive handwriting which often adds a personal and relatable touch to a brand. In clothing brands, they are often used by boutiques or artisanal brands. While they can be unique, it is still important to consider the readability of the fonts since some script fonts can appear intelligible, especially when it is used in marketing materials. Most brands that use these are small-scale or family-owned clothing businesses.
4. Display Fonts. These fonts are characterized as decorative, mainly designed to grab attention and appear distinct. They are often associated with boldness and brands that use them usually have a lot of personality like streetwear brands. While they can be attention-grabbing, it is still recommended to use them sparingly since some of these fonts can be quite overwhelming.
Brands that use display fonts: Stussy, Von Dutch, and Supreme clothing brands use display fonts which are brands that are known for their streetwear and quirky, Y2K clothing styles.
Knowing the type of fonts available for your choosing will at least narrow down the font selection that you currently have which will eventually help you find the right font for your brand.
3. Best Specific Fonts for Each Type
While there are tons of specific fonts you can choose from, we have here suggestions on what best specific, cool fonts for clothing brands you could use for each type:
- Times New Roman – A classic choice, exuding traditionality and reliability.
- Garamond – Appears to have a refined appearance, suited for high-end brands.
- Baskerville – Appears to be sophisticated, recommended for brands that are luxurious and elegant.
- Arial – Clean, simple, and widely popular since it is a safe choice for most types of brands.
- Helvetica – Has a modern look, suitable for minimalistic brands.
- Futura – Similar to helvetica, it gives off a modern and efficient appearance.
3. Script Fonts
- Pacifico – Gives off a relaxing tone, best for artisanal clothing lines.
- Beau Rivage – Appears classic and elegant, tailored to boutiques.
While these fonts are suggested, it is still important to maintain the readability. Use script fonts sparingly.
- Display Fonts
- Impact – Has a strong appearance, suitable for brands that have bold and powerful statements.
- Bank Gothic – Has a modern, futuristic, and techy look, suitable for Y2k-inspired or quirky brands.
Display fonts encompass a lot of styles so there are tons of other fonts that are available for you to choose from. For instance, the best fonts for clothing brands like streetwear could include bold fonts like Impact or retro fonts like Streetwear.
- Tips in Choosing the Right Font
In choosing the right font, consider the following aspects:
- Legibility – While it would be great to choose a font that is unique, it is still highly important to consider its legibility to ensure that it would be read clearly by your audience across various mediums like websites, labels, or other promotional materials.
2. Accessibility – Not all fonts are free; some brands choose to purchase fonts while other pay professionals to create a custom font in order to capture the very essence of their brand’s identity. While the clothing brands fonts we have recommended are free, you might stumble upon other fonts that may require payment.
3. Scalability – Your font should be able to change size without losing its quality—meaning that it should look as good on a small clothing tag as it will on a large tarpaulin. One way to test its scalability is to create mockups for it on various platforms or materials.
4. Consistency – Ensure that the font that you have chosen can be used consistently across various media or materials to establish a clear brand identity and promote retention of the brand’s message.
Choosing a font should be taken seriously and involve careful consideration; it is a crucial aspect of your brand’s identity. By understanding your brand’s identity, considering the different types of fonts, and following our tips, you can select a font that will best or rightfully represent your brand. A well-chosen font will help you stand out amidst the competitive market of the clothing industry.
Common Questions about Company Folder
80% of the brands are using a serif typeface in their logo.
Create a folder structure that matches how your business works. a
- Noe Display. Serif | Paid. …
- GT Super. Serif | Paid. …
- 5 best free fonts for professional logo design.
- Raleway. Sans-serif | Free. …
- Cormorant. Serif | Free. …
- Poppins. Geometric sans-serif | Free. …
- Eczar. Calligraphic serif | Free. …
- Roboto Slab. Slab serif | Free. Design: Christian Robertson.
Start with broad categories like Finance, HR, or Projects, and add subfolders for specific topics. Make sure everyone uses the same system to keep things consistent.
- grotesque.
- neue.
- mono space.
- condensed.
- extended.
- expanded.
- redrawn.
- gotham.
Nicolas Cochin. Nicolas Cochin was designed by Georges Peignot and published by URW Type Foundry.
“Linotype Didot Pro Bold” is the font used in the Zara logo. This font is designed by Adrian Frutiger and published by Linotype. You can purchase this font from the link below. If you do not want to buy this font, we have also provided a free and alternative font that is very similar to the original font.
