Rei Kawakubo / Comme des Garcons for H&M Designer Collection

[pucci_mama]

Originally Posted by Mutterlein

I see it as a challenge for Rei to show that the sum of CDG's identity is more than that. How is her brand going to translate at that price point, with the clothes being made in Romania or China, in cheap fabric qualities, no options for nice finishes, and quantities that far outnumber anything that's ordered by their usual boutiques and department stores?

She won't be able to rely on the high quality of CDG's garments to carry out her design concepts successfully. Logically she'll have to design in a different way, one that utilizes rather than work against H&M's manufacturing set up.

I wonder if Rei is fully aware of the production constraints? I wonder if she'll embrace them?

I just cringe at the thought of cheap tulle layered over another to create a top.. I mean things like this we already see in H&M and the 'made in china' finish will scream at you..
there is only so much you can do from cheap labouring, factories..ugh.

I have gotten rather cynical to designer collaborations, people often seem to forget that it is from 'insert high street' and then buy it even if it's nothing special and let go of their usual high requirements for quality.

I mean the Cavalli for H&M looked tacky, I admit I'm not the regular Cavalli costumer but it was all marketing with those St.Tropez style party pictures.. selling a lifestyle for those that can't afford it.. I mean polyester..so nasty.

But I like anyone would like to see this be done great. I'm just rather reluctant to jump on the joy bandwagon.

[Inaya]

...

article here

COMME DES GARCONS FOR H&M

H&M HAS announced its next designer collaborator: Comme des Garcons.

The famously avant-garde Japanese label, spearheaded by design powerhouse Rei Kawakubo, will provide a range of both men's and womenswear, as well as childrenswear, accessories and a new unisex fragrance for the retailer. In honour of its Japanese roots, the collaborative line will launch exclusively at H&M in Tokyo in November before being rolled out worldwide a few days later.

"I have always been interested in the balance between creation and business," says Kawakubo of the collaboration. "It is a dilemma, although for me creation has always been the first priority. It is a fascinating challenge to work with H&M since it is a chance to take the dilemma to its extreme, and try to solve it."

"Rei Kawakubo has been on the top of our wish list for a long time and we are thrilled that she has chosen to collaborate with us," adds H&M creative advisor Margareta van den Bosch. "We have tremendous respect for Kawakubo's fashion philosophy questioning fashion's ingrained patterns and we admire her artistic approach to design. We are particularly excited to launch the collection in Kawakubo’s native country at our launch in Japan."

H&M's designer collaborations are the stuff of modern legend - capsule collections for the brand by Stella McCartney, Karl Lagerfeld, Viktor & Rolf and, most recently, Roberto Cavalli have proved instant sell-out successes. (April 3 2008, AM)

vogue.co.uk

[rangerrick14]

Damn there is no H&M in Arkansas. Im going to have to leave the state for a bit

[SHSH]

I
Cannot
Wait
Please
Have
Good
Menswear

[baddabling]

im torn

in a way this is exciting, because Comme is one of my absolute favorites.
On the other hand, the idea of it going to commercial...hurts
just think of what happened to stella mccartney after her collaboration with H&M

[Scott]

well,stella isn't rei....and with rei she's built literally a universe with CdG. she will never go away and her work will never wane. and as she said herself,she's always sort of had this balance between her unabashedly passionate creation and her absolute interest in commerce. people seem to perceive this kind of one-sided idea about her but some fail to see the more commercial collaborations she does. plus,she's got one of the most popular scent collections and she does a wallet line among other things.

[lucy92]

i bet this is going to be in about half the stores that cavalli was in.

[writergal28]

Originally Posted by lucy92

i bet this is going to be in about half the stores that cavalli was in.

Why do you think that?

[lucy92]

the number of stores that the designer collaborations have been in are cut each year. karl lagerfeld's collection was in the most amount of stores...cavalli's was in the least...

each year they have reduced the number of stores even more...

rei is theoretically a more avant-garde designer so i predict the collection will only be in a very small amount of stores (especially in the USA). (cavalli's collection was only in six usa stores)

I think rei was chosen to hype up the japanese store openings ONLY NOT to be popular or to be in a lot of stores.

[writergal28]

Originally Posted by lucy92

the number of stores that the designer collaborations have been in are cut each year. karl lagerfeld's collection was in the most amount of stores...cavalli's was in the least...

each year they have reduced the number of stores even more...

rei is theoretically a more avant-garde designer so i predict the collection will only be in a very small amount of stores (especially in the USA). (cavalli's collection was only in six usa stores)

I think rei was chosen to hype up the japanese store openings ONLY NOT to be popular or to be in a lot of stores.

Only six? Cavalli was in at least three stores in Canada (two stores in Toronto, one in Montreal...not sure if any stores out west got it), and we have like 10 times fewer people here.

[softgrey]

Originally Posted by pucci_mama

I'm predicting greedy eBay sellers..ugh

good point......

[Spike413]

That ebay crap infuriated me beyond belief with the Cavalli collaboration. Not even so much because I was dying for anything for myself, but on principle.

Sick and offensive.

I really do think that H&M should limit the amount of each piece that one customer buys. If a person's buying five of one $300 dress it's for damn sure they're not wearing them or giving them to friends.

[nqth]

I posted this yesterday in the RK Universe thread:-)

I bet she could grab a bunch of unsold HM stuffs and re-dye, recut or tie them together in Comme style dresses. Just kidding:-)

[skot4mc]

im worried.

from frillr.com

Avant-garde Japanese label, Comme des Garcons will provide a range of both men's and womenswear, as well as childrenswear, accessories and a new unisex fragrance for H&M, Vogue UK reports. The collaborative line will launch exclusively at H&M in Tokyo in November before being rolled out worldwide a few days later.

"I have always been interested in the balance between creation and business," says Kawakubo of the collaboration. "It is a dilemma, although for me creation has always been the first priority. It is a fascinating challenge to work with H&M since it is a chance to take the dilemma to its extreme, and try to solve it."

[secondhanddress]

Originally Posted by pucci_mama

And I'm also wondering if some people will give up their hardcore opinions on designer collaborations just because it's Rei.

Ooops - guilty as charged. But, come on! IT'S REI! I'm beyond excited.