Comments on: Roberto Cavalli for H&M: Rock-star pandemonium

By: The Business of Fashion

The Business of Fashion — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 14:00:28 +0000

@DaDa: Yes, the MiuMiu/Prada H&M collaboration is probably just a dream, but there is nothing wrong with that! @Dahlia: I hear you on the prices! MiuMiu is actually no longer considered a second line to Prada that is more “accessible”. The company’s strategy has been to completely separate it from Prada in everyway possible and build it into a brand in its own right, with the prices to match.

By: Dahlia

Dahlia — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 01:48:37 +0000

Even the “accessible” luxury brands like Miu Miu and Marc by Marc Jacobs are too far fetched for the general public. Regular folks who have average incomes are bombarded with the fantasy of luxury and they want to be part of that elite world even if it means going for knock offs or having a “look for less” type of settlement. H&M is able to cater to those longings with such a collaboration at a fraction of a price. I have no doubt that if Prada made a collaboration with H&M, the collection would sell like hotcakes. But I agree that it may not need any attention boost like the other designers. If H&M is out to put struggling designers on the world map, then perhaps Prada may not be the first choice. Maybe a French label? I don’t know how well YSL, Jean Paul Gaultier, or Christian Lacroix fare financially, but it would throw for an interesting collection.

By: DaDa

DaDa — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 22:04:43 +0000

not a fan of H&M actually,but it did created enoug buzz on current collection (CAVALLI) and the future ones. People will curious about who will design the next H&M. Most importantly, as you mention, it brings mass audience and currency. So why not:) When i entered into H&M on Oxford Circus last week,just as Cavalli collection launched, i kept saying to myself:”thank god we have MARC by MJ, MiuMIu (from/under Prada)”.personally i dont want to see Miuccia knock H&M’s door for any branding/mass market-related reason. i dont buy that. One Devil Wears Prada has done that year ago. :)

By: The Business of Fashion

The Business of Fashion — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 04:24:27 +0000

@Dahlia: I believe you are in Montreal, and Proenza Schouler’s line was sold at Target stores in the US (with a limited number of items also on sale at Colette in Paris), while Roland Mouret’s collection, I believe, was limited to stores in Europe. This explains why you didn’t hear about the collections. As for H&M’s next collaboration, that is a great question. If the formula is marquee designer, clear brand DNA and unique from previous collaborations, then wouldn’t it be amazing if Miuccia Prada did a collection for H&M? Now that MiuMiu has moved to become a brand in its own right and is no longer playing second fiddle (prices have moved up too), there is room for a one-off accessible collection from Prada, which would get her designs on the back of people who simply can’t afford them today. Unfortunately, most of the brands that have done an H&M collaboration needed a brand buzz boost of sorts. Stella McCartney needed to build more profile (and get a cash injection from H&M) to get her business on the road to break-even (which happened this year). Lagerfeld’s own collections have not been nearly as successful as his work for Chanel and Fendi, so the H&M collection helped to keep the currency of his own name present amongst the masses. Cavalli has a second line called Just Cavalli, but his designs seemed to be appealing only to “cougar” women and he was lacking a connection with a younger demographic, so the H&M collaboration allowed him to do this. And finally, Viktor & Rolf were virtually unknown outside the fashion world, so their collaboration helped put them on the mainstream map. Not sure Prada needs any more brand buzz, but I guess one can always hope.

By: Dahlia

Dahlia — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 16:34:42 +0000

Rolan Mouret? Proenza Schouler? For Gap and Target? How come I’ve never heard of these collaborations before? It’s amazing how such established companies can’t build a hype around a collection designed by world-reknown designers. I think everyone is anticipating who H&M will pick next for next year’s collection. Who would you like to see do a collaboration? I think Badgley Mischka would be nice, but is that too far fetched to hope? Cavalli’s a fun character, I love watching videos of him talking cause he’s so cool about it. However, I’m not much of a fan of his designs, a little too wild for me ;)