Designers Switching Houses & Moving to New Brands

[Kanzai]

Is COS very popular in France or developed European countries? I lived in Russia and now China but most people rly have no idea about it. Is it popular in US?

 

[Lola701]

Is COS very popular in France or developed European countries? I lived in Russia and now China but most people rly have no idea about it. Is it popular in US?

Yes it is. And really in France. They opened quite early in various major cities in province around always not so far from the most upscale or exclusive brands, in different areas than the regular H&M stores for example.

 

[eugenius]

Thinking about when he was a hot commodity at LFW that many years ago. If we can pull up their old schedules, I’m curious to see who’s still standing from that era.

 

[LadyJunon]

To be honest, I see a lot of designers throwing in the towel with high-end and taking up newly-created CD positions at mass-market/contemporary brands. Meanwhile, luxury brands will go on full autopilot with studio-led collections that exist as white noise for the bags.

My theory is already starting to age well.

 

[Lola701]

My theory is already starting to age well.

And you know what, your theory is welcomed. I think it’s time for contemporary brands to really occupy fashion in a creative way.
And I feel like brands are even too shy to really invest in it.

 

[StylishCynic]

And you know what, your theory is welcomed. I think it’s time for contemporary brands to really occupy fashion in a creative way.
And I feel like brands are even too shy to really invest in it.

Uniqlo MGC has a nice ring to it, non? ; )

 

[Lola701]

Uniqlo MGC has a nice ring to it, non? ; )

I would prefer Uniqlo Junya Watanabe.
But tbh, MGC does a great job with cotton at Dior and I associate Uniqlo with cotton a lot.

 

[JohannesL]

I don't think those esteemed Japanese high fashion brands would ever work with Uniqlo since it is more than lending a designer's name. You break your philosophy, you lose your prestige by involving with a brand known for its outrageous labor practice.

 

[Lola701]

I don't think those esteemed Japanese high fashion brands would ever work with Uniqlo since it is more than lending a designer's name. You break your philosophy, you lose your prestige by involving with a brand known for its outrageous labor practice.

It’s a pity. Lol.
I buy men’s CDG SHIRT shirts and I wouldn’t mind someone from the CDG universe doing a collab with Uniqlo so I could save a little bit on my shirts.

 

[Kanzai]

Lol, like we spent years dragging Maria Grazia's tenure at Dior, only to suddenly adopt this patronizing tone when news breaks of her departure. Oh please, Uniqlo??? There are literally hundreds better suited for the job than her.

Just retire as a millionaire and be done with it, then start dreaming that people will be digging through the 'Dior by MGC' archives a decade from now.

 

[yslforever]

I don't think those esteemed Japanese high fashion brands would ever work with Uniqlo since it is more than lending a designer's name. You break your philosophy, you lose your prestige by involving with a brand known for its outrageous labor practice.

True, I’d love to see Yamamoto taking over Armani, maybe as a guest designer for one Armani Privé collection, like Dries did with Christian Lacroix or like JPG is doing twice a year.

 

[JohannesL]

True, I’d love to see Yamamoto taking over Armani, maybe as a guest designer for one Armani Privé collection, like Dries did with Christian Lacroix or like JPG is doing twice a year.

I love the idea but don't underestimate the pride of Japanese people！I think Yohji is more like those masters in respective art fields such as Hayao Miyazaki, Joe Hisaishi and the late Ryuichi Sakamoto--they are uncompromising and have ultimate pride in their "brands". A collaboration almost seems impossible let alone working for others.

 

[Kanzai]

It's impossible to happen lol, Yohji is 81 now.
If there is anyone Armani will invite, it must be JP Gaultier since they are friends, Armani called him dazzler, who was able to create elegance even with irony. But I still think these old designers are still unlikely to be guests.

Oliver Theyskens is still my pick, he's not someone who is egoism and moreover, immensely talent.

True, I’d love to see Yamamoto taking over Armani, maybe as a guest designer for one Armani Privé collection, like Dries did with Christian Lacroix or like JPG is doing twice a year.

 

[JohannesL]

It's impossible to happen lol, Yohji is 81 now.
If there is anyone Armani will invite, it must be JP Gaultier since they are friends, Armani called him dazzler, who was able to create elegance even with irony. But I still think these old designers are still unlikely to be guests.

Oliver Theyskens is still my pick, he's not someone who is egoism and moreover, immensely talent.

But they can also pick someone from the CDG universe since the younger generation are less Bushido-coded.

 

[Kanzai]

^Tao is wonderful, her works are like the remakes of 2000s Rei. I like Jun Takahashi, Noir Kei Ninomiya and smh Chitose, not rly a fan of Junya lol. But none of them are close to goat Rei.
Rei at her peak can be this bourgeois lol ( Comme S/S 1992 ). Naomi Girl was peak too

Vogue.com

 

[tricotineacetat]

Comme des Garcons did H&M once - And based on how long lasting Lemaire‘s association and popularity of his Uniqlo U collection has been, I would go as far as to say that it played a part in the establishment of their own brand from 'emerging' to 'established independent'.

With Uniqlo, the problem is less a factor of lacking prestige than it is the company's understanding of marketing. You see that in the lacking development of their collaborations in favor of adding ones that don‘t really address a niche the existing ones don‘t already cater towards. Other than that, Lemaire and Jil Sander‘s collection have set the bar for what an honest mass market product from a high fashion designer should and could look like.

 

[JohannesL]

I always feel CDG universe has all the lines for different market sectors so it has no need for collaborations but thanks for correcting me.

 

[yslforever]

I love the idea but don't underestimate the pride of Japanese people！I think Yohji is more like those masters in respective art fields such as Hayao Miyazaki, Joe Hisaishi and the late Ryuichi Sakamoto--they are uncompromising and have ultimate pride in their "brands". A collaboration almost seems impossible let alone working for others.

Masters recognize masters, Yohji is not that close-minded (cf Adidas) and Giorgio is fond of Japan. Ah sweet dreams...

 

[Kennnnn]

Not entirely true about the Japanese. Yohji Yamamoto designed Muji's Labo collection when it first started, maybe 15 years or so ago. I think the Japanese are generally quite uncompromising ("kodawari"), but they are also very open to collaborating, especially with parties that share this "kodawari". (I'm sorry but I can't quite translate this word succinctly.) And not just specialist craftsmen or artisans, but even companies like Muji that do certain kinds of things very well.

 

[Lola701]

I suspect Nigo to be the next one in line for a farewell. They changed the CEO at Kenzo and also the Fendi CEO is joining Dior to be part of Delphine’s team who is buffing her team for the new era.