This sounds a bit silly for an entry but I've been noticing through some online shopping/browsing that Japanese have some of the cutest, some of the weirdest, some of the most nonsensical Brand names for their products.
Let's start with some of my very familiar and dearest Lolita Brands.
I think one of the cutest names is Baby, the Stars Shine Bright. When I hear it I'm always taken to a vast field of grass and flowers, a clear night sky, and an innocent little lady dressed in frill laying down on a cute little picnic towel with leftovers from a picnic tea party. She's all alone in her cute dress and massive headbow and she thinks about the difficulties in life, about her individuality, about friends, love, work or school. And then she looks at the stars, and they shine brightly to her, saying that everything will be fine. This is what this Brand name makes me think of, I always feel like it's an encouraging phrase meant for keeping your head up no matter what comes at you. Are you mocked for being a frilly princess? Don't worry baby, the stars shine bright, and they shine for you :)
Another cute name is Metamorphose Temps de Fille.
This one is not only cute because of the meaning behind it but for the phonetic of the name itself, at least it's what I think!
In their website they explain how they came up with the name; it was basically created for girls who wanted to transform themselves, it was the time for their transformation and to be whomever they wanted. I cut it short but you can check here for a longer explanation from the brand itself.
It makes me feel like I can be anything I want, like I can become a gothic queen or a sweet little princess anytime I want, the name itself gives one the confidence to be who they like, cast off the pressures of society and dress the way you'd like to.
Another very interesting and creative name would be Alice and the Pirates. Allusive to the always-mentioned Alice from Wonderland, this name and concept is a bit darker than it's sister brand (or main branch) Baby, the Stars Shine Bright. I don't know if they ever explained the name concept but when I think of it I always imagine a mischievous Alice, dressed in black and chains, and her pirate friend roaming around doing whatever they want. It reflects on the clothing this brand sells, the outfits are darker, the themes are a bit more gothic and elegant, marine prints are often seen and even drawings of vampires, werewolves, black cats, appealing to the dark mysticism and those fantasy tales of night creatures are all-time favorites from this brand.
Moving on to Gyaru Brands.
The first weird name that comes to my mind is Jesus Diamante.
I have no idea how they came up with this name, or why did a Hime-Gyaru brand (specializes in princess-like clothing and accessories) would like to be called Diamond Jesus. I kinda understand the Diamond part as this brands' clothing is very expensive, elegant and princessy. Everything is full of lace, ribbons, pink and flowers. The part I think is weird is really the Jesus part, even if it wasn't meant to refer to anything in particular (especially religion) I think it's just a weird name!
I think this next brand has a pretty funny name - CocoLulu or sometimes refered to as Co&Lu. I have the idea it was formed by joining the first syllables of two names, but when I think of the name itself I imagine a Pomeranian Lulu dog drinking a Coconut drink with an Hawaiian leaf skirt! I know it's crazy but that's what I imagine.
The clothing itself is very upbeat and colorful, I guess the crazy weird name suits it well :)
How about some Punk Brands?
Sex Pot Revenge. This is my favorite brand at the moment, I've been buying t-shirts and tops from them, I've even been trying to make my own version of their damaged products at home using old t-shirts but what is it with that name? I admit I might be a little anarchist in my own notion of the concept but I don't condone any sorts of drug usage or violence. The Sex part is self explanatory, the Pot should refer to drugs and the Revenge part to take things into your own hands? I know Punk is supposed to be all "heck with the System" and "I'm doing what I feel like and I don't care about anything or anyone", but I can't really make sense of the name, it just feels to me they've thrown some random punk-ish words and voilá!
And that mini catch phrase "by the roadside" also makes no sense for me, am I suppose to be a punk motard? :P
I'm totally in love with this brand now though.
Another cool but kinda nonsense name would be the now closed Sexy Dynamite London brand. 3 more words thrown in together.
Unfortunately this brand went down a while ago, you can still buy some of their clothing through auction or second hand clothing websites though.
When I hear this name I imagine a dynamite stick, with red lipstick, big eyes with false lashes wrapped around in a British flag! My imagination is pretty weird... I read that the brand concept for this name was clothing for "cool and beautiful women". Personally I think it represents a powerful (dynamite) and beautiful/sexy woman, the London part just adds to the coolness of British Punk.
This name isn't really weird but I think it's super cute! Since this Pop-Punk brand has many colorful items, many with stars, hearts, leopard prints, I always imagine a very cute and happy couple wearing their products, they are very much in love and very positive about everything in life, they know they can accomplish anything together :D They are Super Lovers! This is what I think about when I hear this brands' name!
It's time for the Fairy-Kei Brands!
The first one that comes to mind is 6%DokiDoki.
This name is so cool and yet why the 6%? "Doki Doki" refers to the sound of a beating heart in japanese. You usually see it in manga when a character is in love and it appears as an onomatopoeia or referred to "my heart is going dokidoki for him". But really, why the 6%.. and.. just 6%? Is it that low? Why is your lovely doki doki so low? why not 5%? why not 23%? Ahah I guess it's just random and it just sounds cute and cool :) I always imagine a sparkly colorful heart beating with 6% inscribed on it.
This one I can't really associate with anything. The clothing is cute and inspired in the 80's, lots of care bears, little ponies, disney princesses... I really don't get the name "Spank!"
Other Japanese weird named Brands:
So you have to listen.. to the flavor? Seems a bit LSD-like, very synesthesic like.
I really don't know what to think about this one.
Banana Fish and their cute trademark phantoms.. Unfortunately another store that closed down, they had many cute things, colorful as well with a hint of creepy (phantoms, skulls). I imagine a colorful fish in banana form!
And this last one is a rakuten shop, it's potentially triggering if you know Portuguese fairly well, be advised it contains swear words.
I don't think they really know what that actually means, the brand is gangsta/street-style oriented I guess, and I think they just thought it sounded cool, but the name is not really something you would want to wear on a t-shirt, out on the street.
So what do you think?
Do you have any weird brand names you would like to share?
Please note that most of these are my interpretations, opinions and imagination about what I think when I hear some names, I don't want to pass on that I know exactly what the brand designers wanted to portray with their brand names unless I direct you to an actual article or I state that I have sources for the things I say.
If you're interested in really finding out the name concept behind the brands you can always search stuff, I would love to know if you find anything interesting ^_^
See you next time *
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