Lanvin x H&M

It's official. The next designer to be releasing a collection with H&M is  Lanvin! I guess they couldn't wait anymore to reveal it because numerous people guessed it already. The collection will be designed by artistic director Alber Elbaz and menswear designer Lucas Ossendrijver. 

“H&M approached us to collaborate, and see if we could translate the dream we created at Lanvin to a wider audience, not just a dress for less. I have said in the past that I would never do a mass-market collection, but what intrigued me was the idea of H&M going luxury rather than Lanvin going public. This has been an exceptional exercise, where two companies at opposite poles can work together because we share the same philosophy of bringing joy and beauty to men and women around the world.” Alber Elbaz, artistic director of Lanvin.

Lanvin fall/winter 2010

“We are thrilled about Lanvin’s collection for H&M, it is such an exciting moment. Lanvin will bring to H&M a luxurious French tradition that is also modern and playful. It is very much a Lanvin collection, using their cut and tailoring, with lots of focus on form and details for both women and men. The launch in November is going to be full of wonderful surprises.” Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor at H&M.

The collection will go on sale on November 20 in the US and Canada, and for the rest of the world on November 23 in around 200 H&M stores. The collection of both womenswear and menswear will be revealed to the world on November 2, just three weeks before the clothes hit the store, making the launch of Lanvin for H&M among the most anticipated fashion events of the year.

This is huuuuge. I'm so looking forward to this collection! Alber Elbaz did such great things with the brand since he joined it in 2001. His mastery of cut and instinct for cloth made sure he always leaves his personal signature on each piece he designed. He was also responsible for some of the biggest trends of the past decade - ribbon, bows, pearls, raw edges, sumptuous colour and metallic embellishment among many others. If one thing's for sure, it's that I'll be the first one in line when this collection comes out. I'll even be camping in front of the H&M store if I have to! Anyone wanna join me? :)