The Lebanese couturier Elie Saab announced in September his first partnership with Swedish retailer H&M, bringing evening wear and accessories to high-street customers starting October 22. The 55-piece collection will sell in selected stores across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Egypt, with prices beginning at about 130 dirhams ($35) and reaching 1,700 dirhams for elaborate pieces. The line features sequins, lace, emerald green, black and gold.
A Swatch collaboration with watchmaker Audemars Piguet demonstrated the commercial power of scarcity when it launched in May. The Royal Pop collection, which reinterpreted Audemars Piguet's Royal Oak design in colorful Swatch form, drew such large crowds to Dubai malls that organizers cancelled sales events on safety grounds and removed the watches from sale.
Sustainable designer Stella McCartney released a collection with H&M in May, 21 years after a previous partnership, using recycled and certified materials including regenerative organic cotton and recycled metals. The line included McCartney's signature roomy tailoring, oversized trench coats and cropped bomber jackets.
Prada partnered with Seoul-based eyewear company Gentle Monster on limited-edition sunglasses launched in July with a deliberately narrow distribution through pop-ups in Japan, South Korea and China. Designer JW Anderson collaborated with Irish stout maker Guinness on a 17-piece collection launched in March that incorporated the brand's visual language into knitwear and embroidered pieces, including a jumper inspired by pub carpet.
Singer Bad Bunny continues his partnership with sportswear company adidas, releasing the BadBo 1.0 shoe in February and a football-inspired F50 Ghost Sprint hybrid shoe in July. He will release the Gazelle Indoor "Solar Gold" on October 1 and a hiking hybrid shoe called the Superteam Cavehiker.
Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen is scheduled to collaborate with ASICS on September 12, bringing her signature floral details to the GEL-KINETIC FR silhouette.
