H&M Websites Experience Disruption as Wang Items Hit Shops

STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Hennes & Mauritz AB's websites are experiencing disruption amid high demand from shoppers for its latest guest collection by designer Alexander Wang.

“We have a lot of visitors on the site right now,” Stockholm-based H&M said on its U.S. website. “This is due to the high level of interest in our latest collection.”

Wang's collection, including a little black dress in wet- suit fabric with reflective leggings, was introduced in 250 stores and online today. Other items include a crop top already spotted on singer Rihanna, emblazoned with Wang's initials.

Since Karl Lagerfeld caused a run on H&M stores a decade ago in the company's first luxury fashion tie-up, the Swedish retailer best known for low prices has relied on an annual collaboration to boost sales in November. Wang, creative director of Kering SA's Balenciaga-brand, is the first American to design a guest collection for H&M.

By Katarina Gustafsson; editors: Celeste Perri, Paul Jarvis.