Versace for H&M

Fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz, popularly known as H&M, have announced their latest designer collaboration with Italian fashion brand Versace. Versace will be the latest house to collaborate with H&M on an exclusive collection, following Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Comme des Garcons, Jimmy Choo and most recently, Lanvin. The collection will soon be available in H&M stores worldwide, the high street brand said in a statement. "Designed by its creative director Donatella Versace, the exclusive collection will look back to the vibrant heritage of the brand, full of leather, print, colour and exuberance in exclusive materials", the firm said. The collection The womenswear collection will be dominated by dresses in materials, such as studded l7eather, silk and colourful prints, with accessories including high heels and costume jewellery, it added.  The men's collection will focus on sharp tailoring as well as belts and jewellery for men. The collection will, for the first time in a designer collaboration at H&M, also consist of some homeware pieces. Versace's creative director Donatella Versace will look back on the heritage of leather, print and colour, and translate these elements in to affordable high street pieces for the Swedish brand's Autumn 2011 fashion lines. "I am thrilled to be collaborating with H&M and to have the opportunity of reaching its wide audience," Donatella Versace said in the official announcement. "The collection will be quintessential Versace, perfect for H&M and Versace fans everywhere". The collaboration marks a turnaround for Versace, who in previous years had claimed that a high street diffusion wasn't in their line of work. "I respect everyone who does it. But the reason I didn't do it is because I work very hard to put the Versace line in the luxury section. I think to put the Versace line in H&M would confuse the brand," the creative director was quoted by LamodaDubai.com as telling the New York Magazine. Rather than being a diffusion, the fashion line will be sold under an ‘Iconic Collection' in H&M, simultaneously raising the profiles of the fashion house and high street brand.  Last year, Alber Elbaz' Lanvin for H&M collection sold out in a matter of minutes in Dubai, with many items appearing on eBay for sky-high prices. Versace for H&M will go on sale on November 17 in 300 stores worldwide. This will be followed by a pre-spring collection that will be launched online from January 19 next year.