The H&M x Mugler collaboration has been highly anticipated since its announcement in February 2023. Mugler Creative Director Casey Cadwallader aimed to “encapsulate the unique and vibrant spirit of Mugler”, after the fashion house’s founder, Thierry Mugler, passed away in January 2022, having already drafted a few sketches for the collaboration. It will bridge the gap between high fashion and mass consumers, with H&M creative advisor Ann-Sofie Johansson promising the collection “encapsulates the H&M ethos of sharing great fashion and democratising design”. The collection, curated by Cadwallader, takes inspiration from and makes reference to Mugler archives from the 80s and 90s and the house’s iconic silhouettes. It is available online and in selected stores on May 11, 2023.
In March 2023, H&M and Mugler shared a music video featuring musicians Amaarae, Shygirl, Eartheater, and Arca performing a remixed version of the 1998 hit song ‘Music Sounds Better With You’, commissioned especially for the collaboration. The original song, by French band Stardust, has been reworked to match the high-energy video, flicking through scenes of models walking through walls, a talk show scene with Casey Cadwallader, the brands’ logos on the Empire State Building, and the singers performing to a filled stadium. This also gave fans the first real look at the collection, with models wearing tailored suits, corsets, cut-out tops, catsuits, star jewellery, mesh trousers, tights, and glitter.
Image Credits: Mugler X H&M
We got to see the collection on supermodels and Mugler muses on Wednesday night, as over 800 guests gathered at the Park Avenue Armory in NYC for the collaboration party. There was music, performance, and, of course, fashion to celebrate the launch of the new collection. Celebrities who had featured in Mugler lookbooks and campaigns made appearances dressed head-to-toe in H&M x Mugler, with the overall aesthetic consisting of a lot of black, satin, and mesh, with silver rhinestone and star details.
There were individual musical performances from the stars of the music video before they came together to perform the signature song ‘Music Sounds Better With You’.
There was also a catwalk show featuring models like Paloma Elsesser, Irina Shayk, and Eva Herzivoga, while dancers performed in embellished catsuits. The afterparty featured multiple DJ sets and was a nod to the Mugler house, celebrating dance and club culture. “It was the ideal celebration of the Mugler H&M collection and the perfect way to welcome people into our world— an unforgettable night built around freedom, personal expression, and liberating, bold fashion,” Casey Cadwallader said after the event.
This is not the first time H&M has done something like this. Previously, the Scandinavian brand has collaborated with Simone Rocha, Giambattista Valli, Moschino, and Erdem, always selling out. A core aspect of these collabs are the elaborate launch parties, like the 2015 Balmain party with a catwalk show, a performance from the Backstreet Boys, and celebrities like Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Karlie Kloss, and Gigi Hadid in attendance.
Written By Lucy Walshe
Header Image By Mugler X H&M
