Your take on designer collabs?

[MaxDexter]

I think they are great way to enjoy a designers aesthetic and design at a lower price.

For example I like all the Rick owens collabs like the champion or converse. I understand the quality is not the same, at least in the converse one, but I really enjoy the look and design.

I also think A Cold Wall is having some great collabs with converse and Eastpak. Love the industrial design.

 

[S0nia]

It is really hit or miss.
Usually, they are a shameless cash-grab aimed at the gullible. And some are incredibly tacky.

Occasionally though, you do get a few wherein the goal is really to approach a new/younger consumer base and introduce them to designer pieces at a friendlier price point. The one I really have in mind is the Banana Republic X Peter Do. Did not get any but the aesthetics were a success and the prices approachable.

The danger of course is people realizing that *designer* pieces are not necessarily of any better quality (whether in fabrics, materials, cuts etc.) than fast fashion and you might as well stick to that. The Mugler X H&M taught everyone that lesson. The upcoming Paco Rabanne & H&M will do the same IMO.

And after a while, it all really becomes lazy and gimmicky.

 

[MaxDexter]

It is really hit or miss.
Usually, they are a shameless cash-grab aimed at the gullible. And some are incredibly tacky.

Occasionally though, you do get a few wherein the goal is really to approach a new/younger consumer base and introduce them to designer pieces at a friendlier price point. The one I really have in mind is the Banana Republic X Peter Do. Did not get any but the aesthetics were a success and the prices approachable.

The danger of course is people realizing that *designer* pieces are not necessarily of any better quality (whether in fabrics, materials, cuts etc.) than fast fashion and you might as well stick to that. The Mugler X H&M taught everyone that lesson. The upcoming Paco Rabanne & H&M will do the same IMO.

And after a while, it all really becomes lazy and gimmicky.

I don't think they are designer pieces though unless made by the designer which they are usually not. Unfortunately some people don't realise this, but I think most know there is a big difference between the designers mainline and collabs.

I agree some collabs are amazing though and high quality. I am so excited for the rabanne collection, what's with the prices though? Way too high!!!

 

[S0nia]

I don't think they are designer pieces though unless made by the designer which they are usually not. Unfortunately some people don't realise this, but I think most know there is a big difference between the designers mainline and collabs.

Actually the chatter around the Mugler X H&M collaboration pretty much established the opposite; people with access to both could not tell the difference and voices from the fashion establishment complaining about this blurring of the lines... Basically frowning at the masses getting a glimpse at the sausage-making...

 

[papertiger]

Actually the chatter around the Mugler X H&M collaboration pretty much established the opposite; people with access to both could not tell the difference and voices from the fashion establishment complaining about this blurring of the lines... Basically frowning at the masses getting a glimpse at the sausage-making...

Mugler hasn't been Thierry Mugler since the master died. He was very much a designer and visionary, and not 'just' a CD.

 

[papertiger]

Hit or miss, mostly misses. Mostly the cheaper collabs remind me of when museums do masterpiece themed rtw, umbrellas and tote bags. It's souvenirs to prove 'I woz there'. Lanvin X H&M had lovely stuff, Alber Elbaz know how to translate design ideas to the mainstream.

Gucci has had a hard time shifting it's North Face, Adidas and Disney collabs. The Disney was made by Gucci too (not sure about the others). Mostly it ended-up in the outlets.

The Gucci X Balenciaga was a concept breakthrough which I enjoyed as an idea, and I liked the Versace X Fendi - and seeing it on real people although I didn't 'invest' because it's not my personal style.

 

[lurketylurk]

I'm hard-pressed to think of one that I liked, come to think of it. When it's two high-end designers collaborating, I usually find it just results in one aesthetic totally overpowering the other or them merging in not-harmonious ways. When it's a high-lo collab, I think usually I wind up thinking I'd rather just have the "high" version because the quality usually isn't too good. Maybe the one exception for me is when Altuzarra did a Target collab? I think those clothes were pretty good for Target prices. I had a black and gold embroidered sweater from that collection that felt really nice and lasted forever.

 

[S0nia]

Mugler hasn't been Thierry Mugler since the master died. He was very much a designer and visionary, and not 'just' a CD.

Yawn! What a tired argument... Why should it be the case about Mugler more than say about Balenciaga, Dior, YSL, Westwood, McQueen, Burberry etc.
Aren't all these *fashion houses* started by a visionary who revolutionized whatever, and created this that and the other? And yet they are all dead and their *houses* endure, live on and rake in tons of money... And nobody would think one minute of saying the pieces they sell are't designer because their founder died.

Anyhow, I was just reporting the impressions I gathered from the people who did get pieces from the H&M collab and also happen to own Mugler *proper*. No dog in the fight either way since I personally don't own any nor do I like the aesthetic.

 

[papertiger]

Yawn! What a tired argument... Why should it be the case about Mugler more than say, Balenciaga, Dior, YSL, Westwood, McQueen, Burberry etc.
Aren't all these *fashion houses* started by a visionary who revolutionized whatever, and created this that and the other? And yet they are all dead and their *houses* endure, live on and raking in tons of money... Ad nobody would think one minute about saying the pieces they sell are't designer because their founder died.

Anyhow, I was just reporting the impressions I gathered from the people who did get pieces from the H&M collab and also happen to own Mugler *proper*. No dog in the fight either way since I personally don't own any nor do I like the aesthetic.

It's not an argument, it's an opinion, by starting the thread and asking the question, someone is asking for (other people's) opinions.

The reason why most lux/designer brands do mainstream and fast fashion collabs is coz they need an injection of cash, it's a licence deal, get over it. It ain't the real thing.

 

[MaxDexter]

Hit or miss, mostly misses. Mostly the cheaper collabs remind me of when museums do masterpiece themed rtw, umbrellas and tote bags. It's souvenirs to prove 'I woz there'. Lanvin X H&M had lovely stuff, Alber Elbaz know how to translate design ideas to the mainstream.

Gucci has had a hard time shifting it's North Face, Adidas and Disney collabs. The Disney was made by Gucci too (not sure about the others). Mostly it ended-up in the outlets.

The Gucci X Balenciaga was a concept breakthrough which I enjoyed as an idea, and I liked the Versace X Fendi - and seeing it on real people although I didn't 'invest' because it's not my personal style.

I don't like the fast fashion collabs but I love all Rick owens collabs. His collabs are pretty expensive in my opinion, and offer great designs and sometimes quality too. It was a hit or miss for me so far.

 

[A bottle of Red]

I liked the Tiffany and fendi collab, as well as some of the Versace and fendi collab.
I did not realize that collab items are not the same quality as the original

 

[S0nia]

The reason why most lux/designer brands do mainstream and fast fashion collabs is coz they need an injection of cash, it's a licence deal, get over it. It ain't the real thing.

Hum...

I always saw it as a cash grab coming from the fast fashion entity... NOT from the designer party... I always thought the designer party was after a new demographic, NOT money! Introducing themselves to younger people... Hoping to hook them for later or something.
So I assumed it did cost them money somehow, or they were foregoing profits in exchange for access to a new clientele!!

Never thought for one moment they were hoping to make some money in the process!!!
Man, learning everyday!

 

[Antonia]

I caved and bought the silk map dress from the BR X Peter Do collab. It's gorgeous and extremely well made!! BR is already pricey even without a collab, so I had a feeling it would be very good quality. If it was H&M collab with Peter Do, I would have less expectations. You always notice when they skimp on quality with how the button holes are sewn and lemme tell you, these are top notch-all attention to detail! Also, I should mention that I bought the men's denim overshirt from the H&M x Mugler collab and was also impressed with the overall quality but I will say it seems the men's stuff is better made than the women's in most cases.

 

[S0nia]

I caved and bought the silk map dress from the BR X Peter Do collab. It's gorgeous and extremely well made!! BR is already pricey even without a collab, so I had a feeling it would be very good quality. If it was H&M collab with Peter Do, I would have less expectations. You always notice when they skimp on quality with how the button holes are sewn and lemme tell you, these are top notch-all attention to detail! Also, I should mention that I bought the men's denim overshirt from the H&M x Mugler collab and was also impressed with the overall quality but I will say it seems the men's stuff is better made than the women's in most cases.

Now, compared with the OGs (actual Peter Do and actual Mugler) would you say quality, tailoring, materials, etc. is on par? And are the OGs worth the extra money?
In other words, are designer clothes really worth that much more than say, premium high street, other than the name and logo?

As an aside, Banana Republic is surprisingly good quality for the money... leather pieces (boots & bags ) and they have a timeless classic trench, such good quality, heavy and hefty. If not for the tag, you would think it was some Burberry (actually reminded me of my try-ons for the Waterloo trench).

 

[S0nia]

I caved and bought the silk map dress from the BR X Peter Do collab. It's gorgeous and extremely well made!! BR is already pricey even without a collab, so I had a feeling it would be very good quality. If it was H&M collab with Peter Do, I would have less expectations. You always notice when they skimp on quality with how the button holes are sewn and lemme tell you, these are top notch-all attention to detail! Also, I should mention that I bought the men's denim overshirt from the H&M x Mugler collab and was also impressed with the overall quality but I will say it seems the men's stuff is better made than the women's in most cases.

Also, what about the sizing of the BR x Peter Do dress? That was on everyone's mind, are these pieces going to be huge? Was it normal sizing after all?