Alexander McQueen for Target

The long anticipated wait is over, Alexander McQueen's McQ line for Target is finally close to it's debut date. I read that some New Yorkers have already had a chance to shop the line at an exclusive event. For the rest of the folks...the line hits target stores March 4th (I'm pretty positive). The vision of this collaboration is to bring out a spirit rather than a single idea that inspired the designer to produce this specific line. The collection radiates a rebellious youth culture. It revives punk/musical elements from the eighties. Expect to see hot pink (neon color) trimmings on black dresses or zippers on knitwear. Backed up by a legendary designer, Target's exclusive McQ line is definitely worth the wait.

Diverging this topic away from fashion but diving into the business aspect, I think Target's positioning as an apparel retailer has been phenomenal. The deals that Target strikes with renowned designers have been the focal point of many discussions within my peer group. This differentiation sets Target at the forefront with it's competitors. In addition to target's marketing scheme, it is a two way street with much appeal to runway designers as well. Currently, many runway designer's target market is limited to the a very specific niche group, mainly the elites. Collaborating with giant Retailers allows you to enter the mass market arena, you are opening your brand up to consumers across America. This exposure is no doubt a money making powerhouse. (Especially beneficial to McQueen because this collaboration further penetrates --- in most cases introduces --- his brand into the US market). If you look at the collaboration concept as a whole, most can agree that it is a brilliant marketing strategy. The ultimate revenue driver is not the customer purchasing the clothes; it is rather, attracting customers to come to the store to walk down the apparel aisle AND the household items aisle, the frozen food aisle, electronic aisle, and so forth...it converts swaying customers to loyal ones who will continuously (or religiously) walk down the aisles of Target to find the next big item on the racks.

Thanks for listening to my rambling (sorry if it sounds a little like a marketing plan/review). Marketing was what I studied in college and is now my profession, I live and breathe this stuff! ;)