The very first collaboration of many.
In 2004, the Swedish label H&M pulled off an incredible feat: it brought out a capsule collection designed in collaboration with the late, great Karl Lagerfeld. He was finally able to make luxury more attainable, as he had always dreamt of doing. In the light of the initiative’s huge success, H&M renews the experience every year, pairing up with all the leading names in fashion. Versace, Stella McCartney, Sonia Rykiel, the House of Martin Margiela and Isabel Marant: H&M’s exclusive collections with luxury brands always arouse widespread enthusiasm. The products released are slightly more expensive, but remain affordable, the idea being to put high-end fashion within everybody’s reach.
Karl Lagerfeld X H&M: luxury goes street.
The very first collaboration for the H&M brand with the high-end designer Karl Lagerfeld was a resounding success. In only thirty minutes, every store in Paris was sold out and the items all became collector’s pieces without exception. The designer’s DNA runs through the collection if only in the predominant use of the colours black and white. The silk dress made a big impression, as did the famous sequinned blazer. This particular capsule collection even featured the face of Karl Lagerfeld on a T-shirt, hiding behind his legendary black glasses. Alongside the clothing, the fashion god also put his name to accessories, including a silk tie. No-one could have predicted the levels of enthusiasm the collection would generate, because the items not only appealed to shoppers who were used to frequenting H&M, but also to customers who traditionally shopped luxury. The end result was products which literally flew off the shelves and could then only be procured online in return for a small fortune.
Rare pieces from a very exclusive collaboration.
Fifteen years later, the list of the most popular collaborations gets ever-longer, but the Karl Lagerfeld and H&M pairing remains etched in stone. Very fortunate shoppers will have managed to get their hands on a prestigious piece from the capsule collection in the stores. Everyone else can find the flagship products created by the designer for the Swedish brand on Vestiaire Collective.
Dresses, jackets, skirts and shirts from the Karl Lagerfeld X H&M collaboration are still available on our online platform. They make invaluable additions to any collectors’ wardrobes. Other capsule collections which have taken the fashion world by storm are also featured on our site: