It is one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. Since 1913, it is has been the identifier of the Chevrolet brand. If you saw it right now, you would most likely think of one brand and one brand only. That’s right; we’re talking about the Chevrolet bowtie.

While there is no doubt that the bowtie is synonymous with Chevrolet, its history and how it came to be a brand flagship remains unsettled. There are many theories as to how the symbol was thought up and attached to the automotive company. Here are the most popular ones:

• When asked about the bowtie, William C. Durant, the cofounder of Chevy, proclaimed that the icon came from a wallpaper pattern from a hotel in Paris. Must have been eye-catching wallpaper in an amazing hotel for Durant to frame his entire brand from it.
• Durant’s daughter recalled the many nights that her father would doodle during evening meals. She remembers that one night in particular he scribbled the bowtie and that’s how he got the idea for the logo.
• When interviewed by a magazine, Durant’s wife said that her husband has seen an ad for a coal company which used a similar bowtie logo and thought it would be perfect for the Chevrolet brand.
• Louis Chevrolet, The other cofounder of Chevy, was a native of Switzerland. Since the Swiss flag has a cross design on it, many hypothesize that this is where Chevrolet came up with the bowtie idea.

Which story is true? Who knows. Whether it came from wallpaper or a national flag, the Chevrolet bowtie is and will continue to be the marker of the Chevrolet brand.