Christian Lacroix X Target or H&M???

Ever since Christian Lacroix stepped on the scene in 1987 the couturier has been synonymous with luxury.  His collections always overflown with beautifully crafted pieces, luxurious fabrics rich in color, breath taking prints and attractive silhouettes.  With clothing so expensive only a small percentage of the population could afford, the house has suffered several financial blows.

The houses new Creative Director, Sacha Walckhoff who leads the house without Mr. Lacroix has plans to take the brand in a new direction.  In a short interview with Huffington Posts Zandile Blay  when asked Would you consider a collaboration with mass retailers like Target o H&M?... Sacha states " Yes why not. Because its part of what I've been wanting : to get people to touch Lacroix at last. Brands like Target and H&M would be ideal for that. Of course, I won't do a couture dress for a mass retailer , but to do a small collection for one would be lovely. I'm open to it. Lacroix is luxury, but the brand's DNA, as the Spring 2011 collection shows, is about mixing the luxurious and the rough. This creates a large territory to play and craft something everyone could love."


A mass retailer collaboration of this caliber would definitely assist the house in getting out of debt however at the risk of diminishing the houses aristocratic image.  Partnering with a mass retailer to early in the recovery phase will only hurt the brand.  If I was Sacha I would be focusing on new marketing plans and lowering opening price points without stripping the quality of the product instead of looking for the easy way out.  When brands such as Louis Vuitton and Burberry collaborate with Target we will know for the sure the luxury business has officially died.


Vangarde Girl Nelle