Let’s talk about … H&M Collaborations
Minju Kim, of Antwerp’s Royal Academy, won the H&M Design Award 2013. Her capsule collection of nine pieces and two accessories was launched into H&M stores back in October 2013 (we have all seen I’ve been neglecting the personal style posts of late).
After spotting Tiany Kiriloff wearing the neoprene sweatshirt during Fashion Week in September, I knew I had to take a look at the collection for myself once it hit the stores. Up close the collection was beautiful, artistic and colourful though after trying everything on I just couldn’t commit. Why? There is always something that cheapens the whole shopping experience for me when I step inside an H&M store and once again I wasn’t able to spend my hard earned cash on something from the clothing line so instead, I left with another beautiful accessory just as I did here when the MMM collection launched.
Truth is, the H&M collaboration experience for me is over. I value the quality of pieces far greater than my need to be wearing a limited edition piece, and H&M just doesn’t cut it.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject ? Will you be shopping the next collaboration ? Who do you have your bets on as the next designer who will team up with the Megastore?
Outfit Details
Coat – WOOD WOOD
Neck Piece – Minju Kim x H&M
Photo Credit
Those are gorgeous! I’ve also created my own designs. Please would you have a look and let me know what you think?: http://www.cafepress.com/kraftyartz
Every time i thought about getting up early to make it to H&M collaborations, i would get discouraged knowing how many people would be at the store; so never made it!
(LUV the hair btw)
Best secret in Paris is to go to the indoor mall at Chatelet, people always forget about that store and usually you can grab anything you want from collaborations without the mad crowds!
Thanks for the comment my dear x
I agree with you that H&M is not the best quality store – although collaborations from a few years ago seem to me to be of better quality than those in the last few years (CdG vs. Margiela for example) – but I am not sure I can relate to the whole point: how is limiting yourself to accessories different than shopping across the range? Are you less interested in the quality of the accessories (thinking of them maybe as more disposable), or is there something else there that I am missing?
As far as future collaborations are concerned – I really cannot think of any other collaboration that would be interesting to me, yet would sell well (which is ultimately their goal).
People bash H&M a lot for their quality, and while I agree to some extent, this is not my major issue with them. While their main ranges are trendy clothes made out of usually very cheap materials, they are also open about this, “admitting” it through their low prices; and there are some ranges (e.g. Trend) that still offer wool, silk and leather to choose from. Of course, you would not expect these to be top quality materials, but they are decent quality pieces that can last you long with good care – often better then what Zara and other high-street stores have to offer. What really gets to me is the ethics – or lack of ethics – in their production process. Even if some of my H&M purchases have served me for years, I have more and more difficulty ignoring what the cost of them being produced and delivered to me for cheap is. Yet I am lucky to have almost everything I need in my wardrobe (not everything I desire – but it is, of course, not the same :)), and I can decide not to shop there again (although it is not, I admit, an easy decision, if only for their home basics) – yet many cannot, or are forced to turn to even worse supply chains (e.g. chinese online stores flooding the web with cheap knockoffs in polyester) due to limited funds they have for clothes. For some, of course, going cheap is a luxury allowing them to switch from trend to trend – but for many, it is a necessity. In this context, the quality of H&M seems comparably OK, but that relative poverty on the one side helps perpetuate poverty (extremely low wages) and inhumane working conditions on the other is beyond sad.
Apologies for my looooong comment, all I really wanted to do was to ask you about the accessories thing :).
p.s. love the Wood Wood coat.
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to reply. I perhaps should have better clarified my reasons for choosing to eventually limit myself to buying accessories is i often find that they are the real gems in the collaborations … i usually find them the Pièce de résistance of design and quality and absolutely a piece that i would cherish in my collection for a lifetime for precisely those reasons. Do you see what i mean ?
There is often talk of Givenchy and Celine (2 of my favourite brands) being part of the H & M design collaboration … i think you already know my thoughts on that.
Thank you for sharing the last part about the ethics and quality … another interesting topic i’ve been eager to discuss with my readers after a close friend recently shared her strong opinion on the topic (more on that later i suppose?)
p.s the wood wood coat is like heater in the winter freeze .. wonderful :) x
I am late, but – yes, I understand, thank you for the clarification :).
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