Every year, Target collaborates with a few high-end designers to create a pedestrian line that is accessible to the public. This year’s designer of choice is Missoni. The designer created a brightly-colored, zig-zag patterned line of clothing that includes sweaters, skirts, blouses, shoes, etc… To be honest, I think the line is a little unflattering and ugly, but people are obsessed with it. So much so, that when Target put together a pop-up store near Bryant Park for Fashion’s Night Out, the line wrapped around an entire city block – that ‘s a heck of a lot of people!!
And then the clothing line went to the suburban stores and that’s when the real insanity struck. Stores sold out in a couple hours, with lines of women grabbing carts full of products. Some claimed they were purchasing the clothing items for friends, but by the end of the day the Missoni products were posted on eBay, selling for more than double the retail price. There is one woman selling a pair of rain boots for $31,000, claiming she will take the money and use it to fund her daughter's college tuiton. (I'm sorry but anyone who buys that is jsut an idiot.)
I love the idea of the designer lines coming to local easily accessible stores. Missoni isn’t the only designer coming out with lines right now. Even the venerable Karl Lagerfeld put together a line for Macy’s that is in stores now. I think this is only the beginning of designers collaborating with lower-end retailers.