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Well this is interesting. Macy's will be shaking up the collaboration formula this spring with a new partnership with Made, WWD is reporting.
It's an innovative attempt on the department store's side to appeal to fashion-forward shoppers. Though Macy's has been working with high-end designers on one-off capsules through their Impulse collections and otherwise doing their best to stay relevant to younger customers with projects like the Fashion Star TV series and a respectable investment in social media, this initiative is poised to take the retailer to the next level by introducing a truly relevant fashion perspective to their line-up.
For the uninitiated, Made created a network for the New York fashion scene that emerged in 2009 as a vibrant alternative to the official Fashion Week shows. The company works with over 40 designers, sponsoring an alternative Fashion Week for emerging talent, and has launched the career of several now-huge names in fashion, including Alexander Wang and Suno.
Jenné Lombardo, one of Made's original three founders, will design the collections with Macy's. She explained to WWD, "Just like us, the Made collection exists somewhere at the intersection of fashion, music, art and popular culture. Our collections will always be inspired by the kids on the streets. Our currency has always been access."
The first "Made Fashion Week for Impulse" collection will debut on March 12 at 150 Macy's stores and online. Inspired by "modern school boy and feminine grunge," it will include between 20 and 30 styles at a Macy's-friendly price point ($39 tops, $139 jackets). Macy's says they will incorporate "Made Fashion Week" as an ongoing part of Impulse, with new pieces arriving monthly.
Also, if there was any doubt that this was the coolest thing to happen to Macy's since they launched Impulse, note that Terry Richardson shot the collection's campaign at Milk Studios (Made's Fashion Week home in New York).
· Macy's Launches Collection With Made [WWD]
· Alberta Ferretti For Macy's Impulse Debuts Today [Racked]
· First Look: Nicole Richie Figured She's Just Go Ahead and Model Her Own Macy's Impulse Collection [Racked]