Earlier this week, Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing and H&M Head of Design Ann-Sofie Johansso sat down for a discussion panel led by Vogue Runway's Nicole Phelps. According to Fashionista, the two designers spoke about their favorite pieces and the importance of collaboration. The conversation drifted into a very candid conversation about the compromises a luxury brand has to make when partnering with a fast fashion retailer such as H&M.
"We managed to make it happen, to find our compromise. I think Ann-Sofie wanted longer dresses and I wanted shorter,” Roustein said, reflecting back on the process. “I learned a lot from this give and take—way more than I was expecting, professionally-wise as a designer, because when you have to respect price ranges you need to work a lot."
After all was said and done, it was clear there’s no bad blood between Balmain and H&M. Roustein went on to speak openly about how working with H&M had always been a goal of his, and even labeled himself part of the “H&M generation.” He also spoke about how proud of the entire collection he was, skirt length and all.
