Mugler X H&M: Hit or Miss?

H&M’s newest collaboration with Mugler is here, as they have also collaborated with fashion houses such as Balmain, Moschino, Versace, and Jimmy Choo, to name a few. However, will Mugler bring H&M’s image up, or will H&M drag Mugler’s image down with them?

Mugler, a much-iconic fashion house, was founded by the late Thierry Mugler, a French fashion designer. Known for their symmetrical silhouettes that left little to the imagination, their pieces are easily recognizable. Celebrities like Dua Lipa, Kali Uchis, Lizzo, and many more have worn their signature catsuit. Established in 1974, the brand holds a lot of weight in the world of high fashion. 

H&M is a retail store found in most malls and online, known for its wide selection of trendy clothing for men, women, and children. The brand has been under allegations of racism in its promotions and greenwashing, or a marketing tactic used to make consumers think that a company’s production practices were sustainable or environmentally friendly. However, they continue to bring in big names to collab with them. Now, collaborating with Mugler has brought everyone’s attention to their upcoming collection. 

The collection itself did impress, gaining lots of praise on Twitter and Instagram, with designs staying true to Mugler’s signature style. The iconic catsuit and jeans were among the products, and other pieces kept the brand’s ultra-feminine vision alive. The quality of the clothing in their new promo pics looks promising, but is it worth paying less for a brand known for its quality?

As many are aware, H&M is a fast fashion company. This means clothing is mass-produced under unsafe and unfair conditions in poorer countries. In order to keep clothing prices low, brands like H&M would pay workers overseas an unlivable wage. Not only that, but it’s also taxing on the environment, as clothing makes up 11.3 million tons of textile waste here a year. However since working in a sweatshop is one of the less dangerous jobs in those countries, they have little to no choice but to continue working there, even if it's for cents a day. 

H&M’s statement about the collab claims that “H&M has been democratizing high fashion by offering global audiences the chance to own special pieces of high-end designer history.” The question is, should this come at the expense of people getting paid so little and working in such unsafe conditions that they won't know if they’ll die of starvation or an injury at the factory?

Of course, only a few people can always afford sustainably-made clothing, and there are many reasons for people to shop for fast fashion. Whether it’s affordability, accessibility, or variety, stores like H&M have it all. Collabs with fashion brands do make the brand more accessible to the public by allowing people who have that passion for fashion who are also on a budget. However, there is a price to low costs, poor quality fabrics, and stitching on their clothing. The main reason people pay more for clothing is to know that the brand’s price is worth it by receiving good craftsmanship, making clothing last longer.

The collaboration brings many differing opinions, as it’s hard to choose between caving and coping or not in the name of sustainability. The collection is set to come out May 11th, 2023, and is expected to sell out regardless of where you stand on the collab. Some will be swiping their card, while others may avoid it altogether. Which side will you be on?

Strike out,

Boca Raton

Emily Fiorini-Casamayouret

Emily Fiorini-Casamayouret is the Senior Editor for Strike Magazine Boca. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys listening to sad music, doing some retail therapy, and eating pasta. You can reach her at emily.fiorini710@gmail.com