Matthew Williamson for H & M

“It is an incredible opportunity to be working with H&M, creating a ‘Matthew Williamson for H&M’ capsule collection. I love the fact that H&M have created a new phenomenon in fashion through the pioneering concept of collaborating with high-end designers to create one-off limited edition capsule collections. I am thrilled that my creations for H&M will be accessible to and hopefully enjoyed by so many people around the world,“ says Matthew Williamson.

Read: Matthew Williamson for H & M S/S 09

With the economy being so grim consumers more than ever are rethinking their spending. Earlier in the year the wealthy continued spending regularly in the hopes of the economy edging back towards the black, but now we are all feeling the crunch. Sales are down by as much as 20% at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Barneys. The customer who would easily spend $800 on a pair of Givenchy leggings at Barneys is now buying it at H&M or Zara. The fast fashion retailers have become hot spots for the wealthy consumer who would rather spend their cash on affordable clothes and save large purchases for high ticket items that will last through time. As the late Yves Saint Laurent once said, “Fashions fade, style is eternal”. I’ve always believed that its not who you wear but how you wear it. That way of thinking seems to be spreading as more and more people are adapting it.

…Click to continue reading | Fashion and the State of the Economy

Ikea please make room for H & M as it is entering the Home Décor business. The collection is set to launch February 2009 with a series of bold prints. The collection includes pillows, showers curtains, and towels. Sad to say H & M hasn’t release the US launch date as of yet. My friends in Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria are schedule to receive the collection first. I love this small push towards home for H & M but they should thread lightly specially in this economy. Now my question is are you ready for H & M home?

H & M Home Collection Bold Prints

…Click to continue reading | H & M Introduces Home Collection

I’ve been excited before about H & M collaborations but this one has me on the edge of my seat. H & M has announced that Matthew Williamson will be the next designer to join their list of collaborators. For the first time ever Matthew Williamson will be designing menswear in addition to womens wear. The line is set to debut in April 09 with womens wear and mid-May with men’s and more women’s pieces.

“It is an incredible opportunity to be working with H&M, creating a ‘Matthew Williamson for H&M’ capsule collection. …Click to continue reading | Matthew Williamson for H & M S/S 09

There’s always something special about a collaboration because it brings about the best of both collaborators. In some instances the collaboration is to target a new customer in others it is to bring a new take to a product. Whether you favor them or not collaborations are big for both parties involved as well as the end user. For the artist(s) their work gets presented to a whole new audience and for the consumer they are seeing something new and fresh that is sometimes more affordable. In the past few years’ collaborations have gained momentum and has introduced a wide variety of artist, designers, and stores to a broader audience.

Some of my favorite collaborations

Takashi Murakami for Louis Vuitton: Monogramouflage

…Click to continue reading | Collaborations: from Louis Vuitton to H & M