Kardashian-Jenner fame propels Balmain X H&M collection to worldwide success
If anyone has any doubt about the selling power of the Kardashian and Jenner name, then now is the time to believe. The reality TV personalities have endorsed the new collaboration between Swedish retail giant, H&M, and French high fashion label, Balmain, and the online store has crashed due to high demand. Not to mention, the Balmain x H&M collection has also drawn major crowds in stores worldwide.
According to CNBC, the collection was officially launched worldwide on Thursday, Nov. 5. The H&M store in Sydney, Australia, which was one of the first to open, was already sold out even before the rest of the stores could catch up in other time zones across the globe. Stores in Asia, which opened shortly after Australia, also sold out stock even before the European stores opened.
The H&M website and online store showed the following error after a massive influx of online shoppers crashed the site: “We have a lot of visitors on the site right now. This is due to the high level of interest in our latest collection. We are working as efficiently as possible to give you access.”
The official Twitter account of H&M in the United Kingdom, had to issue apologies to customes who were inconvenieced by the high demand:
The collection opened to a lot of hype after months of teasers and sneak peeks. Balmain muse Kim Kardashian, took to her personal website to share her favorite pieces from the new collection. She calls the collection “affordable” and refers to Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing as one of her favourite designers.
Kim and her Kardashian-Jenner sisters have frequently been seen wearing Balmain creations. Even Kim’s baby daughter North West, has custom made Balmain jackets. The family has extended their professional relationship with the brand to a more personal level, when they came out in force to attend Rousteing’s 30th birthday party in October.
On a more official capacity, the family is also deeply involved with the new collection. Supermodel Kendall Jenner is the star of the TV commercial that has been made to promote the Balmain x H&M collection. E! News has the scoop on the futuristic ad.
Now that the pieces have mostly sold out, online resellers have started to pop up with severely marked-up prices. Items that Kim described to be "affordable" are now being sold for four or five times over the original retail price.
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