Marc Jacobs to produce third, cheaper line? IHT

[JJohnson]

Yes, I prefer slightly higher-priced lines, myself (or I wouldn't mind sticking with Marc by Marc on sale). I've personally grown tired of most secondary (and tertiary) lines; cheap prices are always a draw, but the paradox of buying a 'name' at those prices unfortunately seems to mean that's all you're getting, while compromising everything else...

I agree. I feel a person may usually be buying because of the name and direct association with status at times. People who don't have large amounts of money would also like to wear the name too, so this gives them a chance. I dont feel we should shun alternative lines, but rather be happy. For example, H&M, Zara, etc do have really nice things! Personally I find it silly for people to struggle to buy something they can't really afford...why buy a $2,000 bag if you have many other bills? Hence, lower lines are good in my eyes

 

[ChrissyM]

I think that in theory this sounds good--it's a way for marc to capitalize on the profits his counterfeiters would be making
he could reap the benefits instead..

while i agree that the quality certainly won't be on the same level as his other lines I don't see why it can't be similar to the Target collaborations that designers have been doing... those prices have been great and you still feel like you are getting a piece from the high-end designer..

we'll see how this plays itself out..

 

[sanita13]

Well excuse me jennifer~ not everyone can't afford designers clothes even at secondary line prices. In reality some people can only afford H&M, Urban Outfitter and Target priced clothing. If would be fabulous for someone like me to have a piece of high designer label in my closet, but unforunatley I don't have a money tree in my backyard.

I would love for Marc Jacobs to come out with a third line (if the prices are similiar to H&M) I will be totally there.

 

[Deleted member 7575]

Sanita, I totally agree. I'm on a college budget (and my parent's don't make much money) so I'm all for affordable fashion. However I also know that cheap clothes, more often than not, will just make you look cheap in the end. H&M, Forever XXI, and Target have their accessability as a plus but the quality of fabrics and construction leave a lot to be desired. I would prefer to spend a few hundred dollars on a well made coat and have it for several years intead of buying a cheap $100 coat and have to be rid of it in a couple of seasons.

When fabrics pill, warp, stretch, pucker, etc they become almost unwearable, you look so bad in them. And when you have the same quality issues in more substantial pieces like long dresses or outerwear the poor quality becomes even more of an issue. I hope Marc Jacobs keeps this in mind, it's easy to lose allure if you dillute your product so much.

 

[pout306]

def a great idea on marcs part..and i think its a good idea for people to be able to wear a designer at a lower price point..the only thing that gets annoying is if EVERYONE starts wearing it and marc 'loses' his rep/status

 

[jennifer~]

Well excuse me jennifer~ not everyone can't afford designers clothes even at secondary line prices. In reality some people can only afford H&M, Urban Outfitter and Target priced clothing. If would be fabulous for someone like me to have a piece of high designer label in my closet, but unforunatley I don't have a money tree in my backyard.

I would love for Marc Jacobs to come out with a third line (if the prices are similiar to H&M) I will be totally there.

Huh? Wherein did I say they could (or should)? It was simply a continuation of the point that these lines are not much different than those from H&M et al., aside from the name, and that I felt oversaturated with them.

 

[masquerade]

well i cant wait

as a college student, this definately appeals to me. when i am bargain shopping at target or forever 21, i often find myself looking at pieces and being "this is so marc jacobs" or "this is so chanel" because in reality, those pieces are based on marc jacobs or karl lagerfeld or whatever. so it would be really really awesome to be able to get those pieces actually by the marc jacobs brands for those prices.

sure, the clothes wont be the greatist quality, but marc jacobs is a trendy designer, you arent going to be looking for clothes that last 10 years. and as a fickle 19 year old college student, tahts definately not what im looking for.

 

[JJohnson]

As a big college student I hope he makes bigger sizes lol!

 

[ysljunkie]

sounds good

 

[Beautiful Stranger]

I'm totally agreeing w/ meg on this. I'm always laughing at Cheap & chic.. Oh, and for the "underlines", the fact is, it always disappoint. Marc by MJ is not worth the prices, i've heard various things about the quality, etc. McQ i belive is probably not even designed by Alexander, same goes w/ all the italian brands. Basically, it's just to make more money, and saying you wanna "reach a bigger audience" is just crap, as you have to focus on the mainline (and couture, in some cases i guess.. but then again, i really can't think of a brand w/ underlines that does couture.. oh wait, gaultier.)

 

[sanita13]

Sanita, I totally agree. I'm on a college budget (and my parent's don't make much money) so I'm all for affordable fashion. However I also know that cheap clothes, more often than not, will just make you look cheap in the end. H&M, Forever XXI, and Target have their accessability as a plus but the quality of fabrics and construction leave a lot to be desired. I would prefer to spend a few hundred dollars on a well made coat and have it for several years intead of buying a cheap $100 coat and have to be rid of it in a couple of seasons.

When fabrics pill, warp, stretch, pucker, etc they become almost unwearable, you look so bad in them. And when you have the same quality issues in more substantial pieces like long dresses or outerwear the poor quality becomes even more of an issue. I hope Marc Jacobs keeps this in mind, it's easy to lose allure if you dillute your product so much.

I understand. I am all for buying a coat that cost several hundreds because durability will last longer then something extremeley cheap and not made out of quality material.

 

[Squizree]

Yeah but it'll probably cheaper in quality as well s price. On top of that the clothes will probably look hideous.

 

[poetiquez]

i'm sort of on the fence.
marc jacobs/ marc by marc may lose some of their exclusivity if he makes this new line so easily available to the masses. from a marketing standpoint this could either be a really great idea or it could bite him in the ***.

like everyone said, quality is also an important issue. a name synonymous with high quality and luxury items will raise peoples expecantcy and if this collection dosent deliver.... people will be scratching their heads.

if he can match good quality and fabrication with the lower prices it could be a really great idea and more $$$, so i'm not really sure what to think..

 

[birdofparadise]

By focusing on a third line, he could elevate Marc by Marc where it used to be in design quality, just how the success of Marc By Marc pushed the signature line up more than a few notches. It gives the design team more room to breathe knowing that there is now another level to focus signatures on.

 

[lucy92]

wow forbes magazine reported on this!

There is no denying that designer Marc Jacobs is a fashion industry favorite. His partnership with Louis Vuitton has allowed him to oversee the creative direction of the brand in addition to cultivating his own menswear, women's wear and accessories lines. And as if he didn't have enough to do, Jacobs this year is expected to launch a lower-priced line, M3, which will boast lower price points than his other collections and ensure his presence in all areas of the retail sector.

http://www.forbes.com/2007/03/13/tastemaker-design-fashion-forbeslife-cx_hp_0314fashion_slide_4.html?thisSpeed=15000

 

[Alejandro]

Whatever, I think MJ and MbyMJ is enough.

I can see this become a feud between the snobs I have for friends "Oh is that Marc??" "Yes honey, MARC JACOBS! not MbyM or Jacobs &Co"

Probably everything owned from the main line will lose so much value cause its all gonna be replicated.

 

[lucy92]

i think you are right alejandro

and since department stores such as bloomingdales, neimans, saks and nordstrom already carry marc by marc in the USA...i wonder what stores would possibly carry the potential "M3" line.

 

[stilettogirl84]

I think he is overdoing this. Too much watering down can lead to a decline in the brand image. He doesn't want to be the Next ralph lauren or Tommy hilfiger.

 

[GalleriaResident]

I think he is overdoing this. Too much watering down can lead to a decline in the brand image. He doesn't want to be the Next ralph lauren or Tommy hilfiger.

Thats what I was thinking. Marc by MJ is fine at still leaves him with prestige like D&G or Just Cavalli but a 3rd line is really pushing it. What is it going to be cheap basics? Where are they going to carry it at? I dont think it be a smart move an his part he tries to hard to be controverisal or revolutionary in the industry. Does anyone remember & by DolceGabbana we see what happened to that scrapped in a year an a half. or Micheal by Micheal Kors another 3rd line that went down in flames. Middle America and the masses in the middle class have no idea who Marc Jacobs is. So if M3 shows up in those type of dept stores(with his design scheme) it will tank in months unless they carry it somewhere like Nordstrom.

 

[softgrey]

ralph lauren is one of the richest and most successful men in the world...
and i think that is exactly who marc jacobs would love to be...