BRAND COLLABORATIONS

Balmain (2017 show):

Source of paragraph: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/fashion-week/g13812534/victorias-secret-balmain-full-collection/

This year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show featured a one-of-a-kind collaboration with Balmain, marking the first time the lingerie giant teamed up with a high-end designer for runway looks and a retail collection. In addition to crafting custom ensembles for the models, Balmain's creative director Olivier Rousteing also helped the VS team create a shoppable range for consumers. Victoria's Secret x Balmain is available in-store and online starting November 29 (the day after the fashion show airs on CBS).

The theme of the collaboration was simple: punk. The edgy-meets-sexy aesthetic was right up Balmain's and VS's alley. "We believe in the same kind of woman, a powerful lady, a strong and confident, sexy girl that knows what she wants," Rousteing said of their collab. The result on the runway included ultra-studded leather jackets, laced-up over-the-knee boots, and all of the plaid, safety pins, spikes, and chains you thought possible.

The capsule was sported by veteran Angels and Victoria's Secret rookies alike for today's taping. Before you see the looks on TV next week, or scour for their shoppable counterparts online, take a look at how the collaboration came to life on the runway.

Mary Katrantzou (2018 show) 

  Source of paragraph: https://www.vogue.com/article/victorias-secret-fashion-show-mary-katrantzou-collaboration

After a celebratory 10th anniversary show during London Fashion Week, Mary Katrantzou isn’t slowing down. This November, the designer will unveil a capsule collection with Victoria’s Secret at the lingerie retailer’s 2018 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. “My work is about perception and perspective and filtering beauty through design to allow women to stand out. I wanted to turn that on its head and look at the ‘foundation’ that we wear as women, underneath the clothes I usually design in my collections. Underwear is the first protective layer that has the ability to reinforce a woman’s confidence,” says Katrantzou.

“I wanted the collection to be colorful and uplifting, bold, and strong. It’s designed to empower women to have fun with their undergarments and feel free to explore pattern and color as a second skin,” she tells Vogue. “The pieces can be worn as undergarments or as actual clothing, so all the fabrications have dual purpose. I wanted to stay true to our brand heritage, so pattern and color are integral to the collection, but we always kept the Victoria’s Secret girl central to the design process. There’s a nod to silhouettes that we’ve developed in past collections, but there are also new silhouettes that we designed with VS in mind.”

Katrantzou worked closely with the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show’s longtime creative director, Sophia Neophitou-Apostolou, and executive producer, Monica Mitro, as well as the Victoria’s Secret design team, to get the prints and fit just right. The Angels, too, got to give their take on the collection. “It was invaluable to fit on the VS girls and get their feedback on what they love to wear,” says the designer.

Brand collaborations proved to be successful for VS as the Balmain collection sold out fast on the official website and the 2018 Mary Katrantzou runway outfits and available pieces received positive feedback. I believe the brand will continue this "collaborations" strategy in the future.