Duolingo Turns Fashion’s Most Mispronounced Names Into NYFW Apparel

Ever found yourself hesitantly attempting to pronounce Jacquemus or Hermès in front of fashion insiders? You are not alone. According to a recent study by Duolingo and YouGov, 62% of Americans feel confident pronouncing “Hermès,” yet only 15% actually get it right. Meanwhile, Jacquemus takes the top spot as the designer name people feel least confident saying.

To tackle fashion’s language barrier head-on during New York Fashion Week, the language-learning giant partnered with Next in Fashion alum Megan O’Cain to launch “The Phonetic Collection.”

The capsule reinterprets classic tailoring, sportswear, and accessories with phonetic spellings of luxury fashion houses, exaggerated curved silhouettes, and Duolingo’s signature humor. Debuting with a campaign on NYC’s iconic Canal Street and a pop-up at Null Object, the brand allowed visitors to bid their Duolingo learning streaks for a chance to win pieces from the collection, proving that learning the language of fashion can be as wearable as it is witty.