Stella McCartney created H&M’s 2005 collaboration collection, following Karl Lagerfeld’s 2004 partnership.
The collection brought McCartney’s modern tailoring and sportswear-influenced style to H&M at lower prices than her mainline label. It included womenswear, accessories and footwear, and was released as a limited collection in H&M stores.
McCartney’s partnership was important because it demonstrated that H&M’s collaboration strategy could continue beyond a single headline designer. The company subsequently worked with fashion houses and designers from many different traditions.
The year is easy to confuse with later collaborations. Viktor & Rolf partnered with H&M in 2006, Roberto Cavalli in 2007 and Comme des Garçons in 2008. McCartney’s collection therefore belongs to the early years of the program.