Collab-o-rama

2010 has no doubt been a year for major designer/ high street collaborations. So far we have seen (to name a few) Sonia Rykiel for H&M, Jimmy Choo for UGG Australia, ongoing seasons by Giles Deacon for New Look, Henry Holland for Debenhams and Kate Moss has recently unveiled her last regular collection for Topshop. Across the pond, Target have continued to feature limited-edition joint efforts thus year with an impressive alumni that includes Jean-Paul Gaultier, Zac Posen, Liberty of London and most recently, Mulberry.

Designer/ high street collaborations prove to be very popular for many reasons. Fans of the designers in question are given the opportunity to shop a new collection, the ranges tend to be limited-edition which attracts dedicated fashionistas and eBay sellers alike, and finally in these frugal economic times, they present a chance to buy a high-end label at a purse-friendly price. Whatever the reason, the collections tend to sell out quickly most of the time.

This month another 3 key collaborations are due to hit stores. The first, due at the end of this week will be Biba designer Barbara Hulanicki's hotly anticipated collection for George at Asda. Hulanicki has designed an affordable range for George at Asda, which makes buying designer fashion literally as easy as buying a pint of milk.

Photo: Pieces from the Barbara Hulanicki for George at Asda collection

Said to be the first of a possible 4 collections, the range of women's clothing and accessories comprises of around 14 pieces and is said to be priced between £8 and "no more than £30" (I have been reliably informed but cannot reveal my source at this time. Lets call him George Asdaman). Earlier this year, House of Fraser relaunched the popular sixties Biba brand and introduced it to the newer generations with some new designs. Hulanicki (who was not involved in the House of Fraser relaunch of Biba, having left the brand some time ago) aims for this new venture to be more economically accessible and with a sold-out collection for Topshop earlier this year under her belt, the George at Asda range will surely be just as popular. The Barbara Hulanicki for George at Asda collection will hit stores on 14th November.

Next up, we have the slickly-campaigned Lanvin for H&M collaboration. H&M are no strangers to successful designer collaborations, a few months back I mentioned some of their most memorable collections while speculating on who would be teaming up with the Swedish fashion brand next. This month sees the launch of Lanvin for H&M which I am sure will be no exception to previous sell-out collections.

Photo: Lanvin for H&M print advertising campaign

Lanvin's Alber Elbaz has come up with an attractive range of clothes, shoes & accessories for men and women, hitting the shops just in time for the Christmas party season. A fairly large collection, it comprises of 48 pieces including party frocks-a-plenty, coats, cute tees, sharp tailoring and statement shoes , this collection will surely have something to please most people. Prices start at £14.99 for sunglasses to £149.99 for some dresses and menswear. This rather chic video showcases the collection very well, displaying the cut and design of each piece in the way of a stylish and atmospheric short film:

Video: Courtesy of hm.com via Youtube

The collection will arrive in stores (including Glasgow's own Buchanan Street store) on 23rd November.

Finally, towards the end of this month, high-end fashion house Valentino will be launching their collaboration with Gap. Based on "iconic fashion essentials", the duo will be putting a luxurious spin on basic wardrobe staples. Gap have had previous successful collaborations that have included Mulberry and Stella McCartney. This collaboration is said to be only available in Europe and will be available to buy from 27th November.

Will you be shopping any of these designer/ high street collaborations?