Comments on: What happens when high-end goes down-market?

By: Albert

Albert — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:09:46 +0000

Your comments about Anya Hindmarch make a lot of sense and highlight the way its business is run in a clever revenue maximizing way. A true brand should always be about quality that the customer can rely on (and justify the margin busting prices). By the the way I had a negative experience w one of Anya Hindmarch mainline bags purchased at full price from a flagship store. The product was made from unsuitable leather and started to fall apart almost immediately. I was given a run around by customer service for about a year before a credit note was issued without an offer of a decent discount on the current stock. How does it make me feel about the brand? Bottom of the food chain.

By: letter bird

letter bird — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:32:07 +0000

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By: cathealey

cathealey — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:56:56 +0000

I’m disappointed to see Jimmy Choo go down market. I hope he pays attention to the quality. I’ve seen some designers go down market and still maintain their cache. Vera Wang’s home goods at Kohl’s are nice. It’s less risky for a clothing designer to launch a low end home good brand than for a designer to launch a cheaper version of their luxury goods. Anya Hindmarch and Target is an example of how not to go down market.

I saw the Anya Hindmarch bags at Target, they were dreadful. Before seeing Anya’s bags in Target, I really loved her brand for the look, the quality and attention to functionality. The Target line was cheap pleather. It looked like something only a blind old lady would carry. I tried one of the bags and it was almost unusable. One of her bags was on clearance for $12.00. How she could put her name on something so alien to her brand’s values, I can’t understand. I’ll never consider buying her brand because of the Target experience.

Here’s hoping Jimmy does this right. Anya didn’t.

By: papertiger

papertiger — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:59:03 +0000

Jimmy Choo is one of designer name brands I don’t own. I wouldn’t wear the shoes if you gave them to me. Jimmy Coo hasn’t designed the shoes for years, he wanted nothing to do with the company and now concentrates on his couture line. The whole Jimmy Choo thing is a sham, as are the resurrections of Biba, Ossie Clark and Halston. Herve Leger are only Max Azaria BGBC and nothing like the quality of Leger. Jimmy Choo is all hype.

By: Empress

Empress — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:57:32 +0000

Remember the Gryson bags at Target? Those were horrendous. Why should I pay for a lower priced bag at a lower quality? Then I heard about quality issues at the “regular” price. I was completely turned off. There was only a slight difference with Anya Hindmarch, the style was there, but again, the quality was not the same as its boutique counterparts. I’ve been burned by designers before (purchasing an expensive bag only to have it fall apart a few months later). So I guess it’s up to the individual. I think part of the reason I buy a designer bag is because it is designer and not everyone and their grandma has one. If my favorite designer decided to pair with Target, I think I might not buy the brand again… I’d be a little upset at paying $500 for a style that’s now available for $50. I’d feel cheated.

By: Mandy

Mandy — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:13:22 +0000

It doesn’t bother me. People buying Choo at H&M or Mizrahi at Target surely can’t be expecting the same quality they get with those designers’ boutique lines. Yes, they are buying the exclusive name, but I think most people get that there’s a big difference. I certainly do not have the same quality expectations with a $1K bag as I do with a $30 bag. I actually struggle a bit more sometimes when looking at both a designer’s high end and mid-priced lines, as the quality differential is often not as clear.

I have also understood that many of the lower end lines actually help designers fund their higher end, but often not as financially lucrative, lines. I think this was the case with Mizrahi when he started at Target, but I’m sure it’s not the case in all circumstances.

Those who can afford the high end and high quality will continue to buy it, IMO.

By: Tara

Tara — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:28:13 +0000

Sometimes it’s kind of a let down. The look is sometimes there but the quality can be so awful, that you forget how great the designer is. Anya Hindmarch for Target.. the worst bags. They looked cute, but when you touched them it was just a big letdown. The same with the McQueen line. Some of the Target GO designs have been great and quality has exceeded my expectations. I loved the Tracy Feith for Target. The fabrics were great.

By: tadpolenyc

tadpolenyc — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:50:28 +0000

great article, amanda! i completely agree with every point you made.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:39:03 +0000

It is beyond me how anyone can be upset about this. As the past has shown, these collabs didn’t make the real deal any less special – I’d argue the opposite way, it makes much more people aware of a Designer brand, and of course it gets people more interested in it. Since these items sell out super-quickly, it’s not like everyone has them, and those who own an item from the high-end line will most likely get much more positive reactions, because people now know the brand.

But most importantly, after all, it is *just fashion*. Fashion should be about expressing who you are, not what you earn. True style comes from picking the best out of everything, and that includes highstreet stores just as much as Designer brands. Choo and H&M could be just another great find.

And if you don’t have any other thing to complain about than your favorite Designer “selling out” – lucky, lucky you.

By: dierregi

dierregi — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:09:57 +0000

I remember when the Cavalli line hit H&M stores. It was sold out by lunch time on the first day. I strolled around the shop around noon and saw a few women (would not call them “ladies”) still queueing to pay a truckload of stuff each of them had selected.

I seriously doubt they even knew what they were buying, and I am pretty sure most of that stuff ended up on eBay at the end of the same day. Moral of the story: this designers thing at H&M seems a crazy speculation that has nothing to do with buying less (or better quality) at lower prices.