Kowtow vs Yu Mei:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Yu Mei had more branded searches than Kowtow among designer fashion labels in New Zealand. Yu Mei had about 2,990 branded searches, while Kowtow had 2,220. Yu Mei made up 5% of all designer fashion label searches we track, and Kowtow accounted for 3.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about designer fashion labels, Kowtow appeared in four of the five answers and Yu Mei in two. Kowtow was mentioned before Yu Mei in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Yu Mei, about 35% more searches than Kowtow
Who does AI mention more?
Kowtow, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Yu Mei in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Kowtow, named ahead of Yu Mei in 4 of 4 answers
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Top designer fashion labels in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Kowtow was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Yu Mei was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Kowtow was listed before Yu Mei in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Juliette Hogan1st- Kowtow2nd
Harris Tapper3rd
Zambesi4th
Karen Walker5th
Paris Georgia6th
Maggie Marilyn7th
RUBY8th
Marle9th- +1 more
- Yu Mei11th
- +4 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Juliette Hogan4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Harris Tapper4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Kowtow4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Karen Walker3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Maggie Marilyn3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Deadly Ponies2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Yu Mei2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Zambesi2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Paris Georgia2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Marle2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about designer fashion labels
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which New Zealand designer fashion label should I buy in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best New Zealand designer fashion label brands in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best New Zealand designer fashion label in New Zealand for womenswear?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“designer clothing nz”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“nz fashion brand”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.
Is Kowtow or Yu Mei more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Kowtow and Yu Mei by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 designer fashion labels we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.
Share of searches by month for Yu Mei, Kowtow. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Karen Walker | Juliette Hogan | Deadly Ponies | Caitlin Crisp | Maggie Marilyn | Yu Mei | Harris Tapper | RUBY | Kowtow | Twenty-Seven Names | Zambesi | Kate Sylvester | Paris Georgia | Marle | Ingrid Starnes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 26.1% | 11.5% | 10.9% | 11% | 5.7% | 4.6% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 3.6% | 4% | 3.2% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 0.38% |
| Nov 2025 | 31.1% | 9.4% | 12.9% | 10.7% | 4.6% | 4.4% | 5.4% | 4.8% | 3.3% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.3% | 0.35% |
| Dec 2025 | 33.6% | 8.2% | 13.8% | 9.3% | 4.9% | 7% | 3.2% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 2.6% | 1.7% | 1.2% | 0.32% |
| Jan 2026 | 29.9% | 9.4% | 12.6% | 8.6% | 5.5% | 6.3% | 3.5% | 4.9% | 3.5% | 5.6% | 3.2% | 3.1% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 0.35% |
| Feb 2026 | 27.2% | 10.4% | 11.4% | 9.5% | 6.1% | 5.5% | 4.7% | 4.5% | 3.1% | 5.1% | 3.4% | 4.3% | 2.6% | 2% | 0.37% |
| Mar 2026 | 33.4% | 8.7% | 11.8% | 8.1% | 6.4% | 4.8% | 6.1% | 3.9% | 3.1% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.8% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 0.33% |
| Apr 2026 | 31.1% | 9.6% | 13.4% | 8.9% | 5.9% | 4.5% | 3.8% | 3.9% | 5% | 2.8% | 3.3% | 3% | 2% | 2.4% | 0.36% |
| May 2026 | 30.4% | 9.2% | 15.9% | 7.2% | 4.7% | 5.4% | 5.5% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.2% | 2.9% | 2.5% | 2.8% | 0.35% |
| Jun 2026 | 32.2% | 8.2% | 14.2% | 7.6% | 6.3% | 5.7% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 3.9% | 4.3% | 2.9% | 2.6% | 1.6% | 1.9% | 0.39% |
| Jul 2026 | 32.1% | 9.7% | 13.5% | 6.1% | 6% | 4.7% | 5.7% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.3% | 2.4% | 4.3% | 2.5% | 1.8% | 0.28% |
| Aug 2026 | 26.6% | 12.1% | 11.6% | 13.8% | 6.2% | 5.6% | 4.8% | 3% | 2.8% | 4.2% | 2.8% | 2.2% | 1.7% | 2.5% | 0.25% |
| Sep 2026 | 27.9% | 12.4% | 11.8% | 9.8% | 6.2% | 5% | 4.8% | 4% | 3.7% | 3.5% | 3% | 2.8% | 2.7% | 2.1% | 0.32% |
How has the Kowtow and Yu Mei comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands 2 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Kowtow took it in April 2026, Yu Mei took it in May 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kowtow’s share of searches among designer fashion labels in New Zealand moved from 3.6% to 3.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.4K to 2.2K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Yu Mei’s share of searches among designer fashion labels in New Zealand moved from 4.6% to 5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 3K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand designer fashion labels in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Kowtow overtook Twenty-Seven Names to rank 9th among designer fashion labels in New Zealand, with 3.7% of the searches.
In September 2026, Yu Mei lost share of searches among designer fashion labels in New Zealand, from 5.6% to 5%.
How are branded searches counted?
10 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Kowtow’s and Yu Mei’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among designer fashion labels
- Karen Walker vs Juliette Hogan: compare popularity
- Karen Walker vs Deadly Ponies: compare popularity
Karen Walker vs Caitlin Crisp: compare popularity- Karen Walker vs Maggie Marilyn: compare popularity
- Juliette Hogan vs Deadly Ponies: compare popularity
- Juliette Hogan vs Caitlin Crisp: compare popularity
Put your own brand in this comparison
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