Two decades after reshaping high-street fashion, H&M is reopening the archives and relaunching some of its most saught out pieces in an exclusive pre-loved collection. For those who missed out on the Margiela Leather Belt Jacket or the iconic Versace Baroque Bomber, now’s the chance to finally own these iconic pieces.
In 2004, H&M introduced its first designer collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld, then creative director at Chanel. This move was transformative, marking the beginning of H&M’s annual tradition of collaborating with luxury designers to bring high-end fashion to the high street. Over the years, the brand has worked with major names like Stella McCartney, Balmain, and Moschino, each collaboration combining the designer’s unique aesthetic with H&M’s commitment to accessibility.
The collaborations changed the fashion industry landscape. As the first high-street brand to partner with luxury fashion houses, H&M pioneered a new model that made luxury fashion accessible to a much wider audience. This approach not only set a precedent for designer collaborations in the retail space but also highlighted the importance of inclusivity in the fashion industry. It gave consumers a chance to own luxury-inspired items at affordable prices, making high-end fashion less exclusive and influencing other retailers to adopt similar approaches.
To celebrate 20 years of designer collaborations, this year’s collection will feature exclusive, pre-loved favourites from past partnerships. The brand has teamed up with an online pre-loved marketplace and vintage retailers to source items, focusing on a circular fashion approach that revives and resells iconic pieces from past collections.
Today, I visited the London store right after the collection dropped. With a queue already forming outside before opening, it was no surprise that nearly everything sold out within 45 minutes. Staff mentioned that some of the pieces were sourced directly from collections held at H&M’s London office — a rare chance to own pieces with an even closer tie to H&M’s design history.
If you’re eager to get your hands on one of these iconic pieces, pay attention to the upcoming global drops. The collection will kick off in Paris on October 24. It will then move to London, Milan, New York, and more, wrapping up with the final online release on October 31. (Official Schedule below)
Thursday, 24 October: Paris, Lafayette
Friday, 25 October: London, Regent Street
Saturday, 26 October: Milan, Duomo
Sunday, 27 October: New York, Soho
Monday, 28 October: Barcelona, Paseo de Gracia
Tuesday, 29 October: Stockholm, Götgatan and Drottninggatan
Wednesday, 30 October: Berlin, Mitte
Thursday, 31 October: Online, HM.com
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