Meaning and History
Etro is a Milan-based fashion house founded in 1968 by Gerolamo “Gimmo” Etro as a textile company. Its identity brings together the Pegaso, a winged horse, and the ETRO wordmark. The company identifies Pegaso as its logo and dates the introduction of its signature paisley motif to 1981 (Etro company profile).
The stage image shows the winged horse in a compact, dark silhouette above four widely spaced capital letters spelling ETRO. The horse gives the mark a figurative emblem, while the wordmark states the name plainly. Etro describes Pegaso as a symbol of freedom, energy and creativity, and presents it as a heraldic motif used across garments and accessories (Etro’s Pegaso page).
1968 – Today
Etro’s official profile continues to identify Pegaso as its logo. A 2019 report by WWD said the winged horse had represented the brand since 1968. The emblem and wordmark form the logo; paisley is a related textile motif, not another part of the wordmark. Etro says Gerolamo Etro introduced paisley in 1981, drawing on Indian and Kashmiri shawl patterns. Its repeated, intricate pattern gives fabrics a visual identity that can accompany the logo or appear on its own.
Disclaimer
This article is part of the educational resources provided by Logo Index, an independent archive covering logos, visual identities and graphic design history. Etro and associated trademarks and brand assets remain the property of their respective rights holders where applicable.
