The next designer collaboration from H&M might be one of the most anticipated yet: the high-street retailer is partnering with the French fashion brand Mugler, and the collection launches today.
H&M brought in some serious star power to promote the partnership, releasing a lookbook of the collection, shot on the likes of Jerry Hall and Mariacarla Boscono, and staging a theatrical catwalk show in New York, with the likes of Pamela Anderson and Chloë Sevigny on the front row and Irina Shayk on the runway.
The celebratory New York event had 800 attendees – many of whom were wearing pieces from the Mugler H&M collection – who enjoyed a full catwalk show and performances from artists Shygirl, Amaarae and Eartheater.
The capsule – available online and in UK stores from today – has been crafted under the direction of Mugler’s creative director Casey Cadwallader and will encapsulate "the unique and vibrant spirit of the brand", H&M said.
H&M Corset-style wool jacket
Wool cut-out trousers
Leather jacket
Strapless evening gown
Cadwallader was appointed as Mugler's lead in 2018 and, over the past five years, has become known for his sheer, figure-hugging designs that have fast become a go-to for celebrities looking to make a head-turning statement – from pop sensation Dua Lipa to model of the moment Bella Hadid. His impressive design experience – at brands like Loewe, Acne Studios and Narciso Rodriguez – spans almost two decades, while his inclusive casting is highly praised.
H&M's designer collaborations are always instant sell-outs – and undoubtedly the Mugler drop will be no different. For the past two decades, the Scandi high-street brand has offered its customers the opportunity to own high-end designer pieces at a fraction of the usual price. Previous successful collaborations have been with the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Kenzo, Simone Rocha, Versace, Giambattista Vali, Erdem and Isabel Marant.
When it came to working with Mugler, H&M wanted to tap into the recognisable Mugler silhouette of today. H&M describes this as "strong, big shoulders, a tight focus on the waist, an ode to the curves and lines of the body, a tribute to confidence". The collection has also paid tribute to the founder by recreating a series of limited-edition archive remakes, to sit alongside the contemporary designs, which have been selected by Cadwallader for their contemporary resonance.
"Every piece in the collection is a moment of fashion history – a chance for a global community of fans to own a piece of the brand’s legacy," the brand explained. "Whilst the collection includes both menswear and womenswear and, the fluid transformational cross-gender styling that has always underpinned the Mugler ethos is central."
In celebration of Mugler’s long association with music, performance, theatricality and subculture, Mugler and H&M have also released a music video, which stars Amaarae, Shygirl, Eartheater and Arca. Together, they have recorded their own take on Stardust’s 1998 dance hit ‘Music Sounds Better With You’, which you can watch below.
The legendary French fashion designer Thierry Mugler passed away last January, leaving behind a great legacy in the world of fashion. He often took inspiration from the 1940s and 1950s in his work, which resulted in theatrical, groundbreaking silhouettes with exaggerated shoulders and hips, structured waists and sculptured bodices.
His designs are instantly recognisable as his own and have been worn by the world's most famous people, from Beyoncé to Rihanna, David Bowie to Diana Ross. Mugler famously returned to designing after a 20-year hiatus to create Kim Kardashian's 'wet dress' for the 2019 Met Gala, which took eight months to make and had the illusion of glistening water droplets cascading down Mugler's iconic silhouette.
The Mulger x H&M collection will be available online and in stores from today.
