You may have heard — we’re in a worldwide recession. The retail sector has been hit especially hard, but a few enterprising apparel companies are making moves to see to it that they escape hard times in good shape.

New York-based marketing firm Abrams Research surveyed more than 100 luxury experts to name the top retail fashion brands that appear to have the best strategies for surviving the recession.

The results were varied and interesting: Topshop topped the list with 34.1 percent of those surveyed naming it as a brand that will continue to flourish. Chanel came in second with 28 percent, with Louis Vuitton following with 21.9 percent. Forever 21, H&M, and Marc Jacobs all tied for fourth place at 13.4 percent.

Honorable mentions included Hermès, J.Crew, Cartier, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Rolex, Tiffany & Co., Diane von Furstenberg, and Prada.

So what do all these brands have in common? They are all maintaining their commitments to quality while experimenting with sustainability in their operations. Many of the companies on this list have added organic cotton to their lineup, but that doesn’t mean they’ve given up on leather or fur, for example. Durability is paramount, and the most successful apparel brands right now are finding a balance between old world and new world values.

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