The Chanel logo is an interlocking pair of back-to-back “C” letters, a monogram that the House of Chanel itself describes as “a House emblem.”[1] The mark is widely understood to represent the initials of founder Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel, and it has remained visually unchanged since its creation in the 1920s.[2]
Design and History
Gabrielle Chanel chose the interlaced Cs logo for her label in 1925.[3] Trademark records show that Chanel filed applications on 18 November 1924 for both the typeset “Chanel” mark and the interlocking CC design, which were registered on 24 February 1925.[4] The design is attributed to Coco Chanel herself.[2]
According to the luxury fashion house, Chanel designed the interlocking Cs as a nod to the monastery in Aubazine, France, where she spent much of her childhood. The geometric patterns of the stained glass windows in the chapel at the monastery are said to have provided the inspiration for the mirrored, intertwined double Cs.[5] Other theories have circulated over the years, including connections to the Château de Crémat in Nice or to Catherine de’ Medici, but the Aubazine stained glass account is the one the house itself has put forward.[6]
The double C officially entered commercial use in the mid-1920s, when it was trademarked to protect the house’s products, starting with perfumes.[7] The mark has never been redesigned since its original creation, a rarity among major luxury houses.[8]
Meaning and Symbolism
The two interlocking Cs are the initials of the eponymous founder, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel.[2] The mark functions as a standalone symbol that appears across the house’s products, from the CC turn-lock closure on the classic 11.12 handbag to jewelry, fragrance packaging and beauty compacts.[9][1]
Typography and Design
The CHANEL wordmark, often placed underneath the interlocking Cs, is set in an all-caps sans-serif typeface described as evocative of the 1920s Art Deco era.[2] The wordmark was registered in 1924, one year before the CC design registration.[2][4]
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