Good news fashion fiends (and Bridgerton fans?). H&M has announced that it will unveil a collaboration with Irish fashion designer Simone Rocha that will hit stores worldwide on March 11.
Simone Rocha
The outing means Rocha, who is known for her voluminous tulle party dresses and girly interpretations of Victorian, Tudor and Regency chic, joins the ranks of other fashion heavyweights such as Alber Elbaz of Lanvin and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons who had created high-street renditions of their designs for the Swedish retailer.
READ MORE: Simone Rocha’s Latest Moncler Collection Is A Force Of Nature
The event also marks H&M’s first blockbuster designer tie-up during the pandemic. The highly-anticipated annual event is a highlight for savvy shoppers who crave a slice of runway designs for a fraction of the high-end price tags. These launches are also typically marked by snaking overnight queues outside H&M stores worldwide – something that will admittedly change during the pandemic.
Rocha revisited some designs from her archives for the collection.
While we wait for the doors to open, we have rounded up some of the things that you ought to know about this outing and a peep at what you can add to cart on March 11.
THIS COLLECTION CAPS A MILESTONE YEAR FOR SIMONE ROCHA
This collection is the icing on the cake for the Irish-Chinese designer who marked her 10th year in the business last September. In the past decade, she has sealed her status as a darling of the London fashion scene who has gone from showing her first graduate collection at the prestigious Fashion East showcase in 2010 to having a hot-ticket show at London Fashion Week each season, pre-pandemic.
THE COLLECTION WAS MEANT TO BE LAUNCHED LAST YEAR
According to The Irish Times, the collection was supposed to drop in stores in November last year – historically the month that H&M schedules the release of its annual designer collaborations. However, the pandemic thwarted such plans and pushed the launch date to March 11 this year. Better late than never, right?
SHE’S FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF SOME OF HER FASHION HEROES AT H&M
Rocha, who once cited Rei Kawakubo and Miuccia Prada as her idols in an interview with The Guardian, said in a statement released by H&M that her collection is “truly is a celebration of the signatures of my brand, and the influences that have shaped me”. She stated: “As a designer, and as a customer, I’ve been such a fan of the H&M collaboration concept. Margiela, Alber Elbaz, Comme des Garcons – it’s such an amazing list of alumni to be a part of.”
EXPECT PLENTY OF ROCHA-ISMS
The round volumes, sumptuous fabrics that have come to define Simone Rocha works and redux of her previous collections will be on full display for her collaboration with H&M. Expect punkish tartan, woven tinsel tweed, beadwork embroidery, broderie anglaise and prints of florals and portraits as well as dramatic silhouettes such as cloque frocks and tiered skirts. The accessories include statement chandelier earrings, feather flats and headbands.
THE WHOLE FAMILY CAN NOW BE DRESSED IN A SIMONE ROCHA DESIGN
Besides womenswear, the Simone Rocha and H&M outing will include menswear and childrenswear, marking the first time the former LVMH Prize finalist is dabbling into these territories. Just like the womenswear pieces, the range for men and kids will span ready-to-wear and accessories, including knits, shirting, trench coats and Rocha’s signature pearl-embellished shoes.
