H&M confirms Maison Martin Margiela collaboration

Following the rumours yesterday, Swedish fashion retailer H&M confirmed this morning that its next collaboration will be with French fashion house Maison Martin Margiela. The statement confirmed that the fashion house will produce an autumn/winter

2012 collection that will include garments for men and women, as well as accessories and that it will hit 230 stores worldwide and H&M’s website on November 15. H&M also highlighted that the designs will be the "work of a group rather than one designer" after the label's namesake founder left in 2009 and was never replaced.

The release, which was sent out formatted like a CV also included that the Maison Martin Margiela fashion is “conceptual and timeless” in style, and described the values and the ideas of the collection as “anonymity, whites, and ambiguity” with H&M’s as “fashion and quality at the best price”.

“Maison Martin Margiela is one of the most important and influential fashion houses of the past three decades,” said Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor at H&M. “I am so excited by this collaboration which will give fashion lovers around the world the chance to wear special pieces by Maison Martin Margiela. This collaboration will be a great and memorable fashion moment.”

Maison Martin Margiela added: “We are very happy to present Maison Martin Margiela pieces with H&M, offering a new interpretation of our vision. The democracy of our fashion has always been at the centre of our creativity, and the collaboration with H&M allows us to push this instinct further. We will bring together the contrasting universes of the two houses in ways that will surprise all.”

No pictures of the collection have been released, but as with all the H&M guest designer collaborations a number of videos have been produced. For women we can see a long darted roll-neck sweater being drawn and for men there is a car-coat. The colour palette of the designs are unknown but with the values stressing on “whites” predictions are that the collection will be predominately of white, black, grey and nude shades, the trademark colours of the fashion house.

Maison Martin Margiela is the eighth designer to join forces with H&M. Recently, the retailer announced a collaboration with style icon Anna Dello Russo, which will hit stores in October.