The inaugural collaboration launched across over 20 Australian and New Zealand stores in March, with three total drops set throughout the season.
Cue managing director Rod Levis said a summer partnership had not been locked in at time of press.
“Dion is really the only top designer that my design team want to collaborate with,” Levis said. “He is a very diligent, sensible young man who works really hard and is interested in the business and design aspects of fashion.
“It was only envisaged to be a three-month commitment but I would like to see it continue. Dion is busy doing his next collection and breaking into the market overseas so we’re not sure if he’s able to put in as much time and attention that it needs.”
The limited edition collection comprised 50 pieces, running at a minimum of 50 to a maximum 150 units produced per colour, per style. Levis said the company’s internal design team felt a strong synergy with Lee’s vision for the collaboration.
“Because of this... the designers broached barriers to pull it together. It was difficult because we had to break deadlines – the time of three months is a major additional workload on our design room so it wasn’t easy.”
However, Levis confirmed the upmarket collaboration had attracted strong sell on shop floors.
The top three selling styles for the March drop included a black blazer with slashed sleeves ($450), a utility skirt ($250) and a dinner shirt ($99), while the April drop saw a silk drape blazer in crimson ($480), a felt moulded dress ($259) and cutaway shirt dress ($109) record the strongest sales.
Meanwhile, the company’s main line also saw a 12 per cent increase on seasonal sales to date through its department store partner Myer.
The company currently has 84 stand-alone Cue stores and 68 Myer sites, while its Veronika Maine brand operates 39 stores and 33 locations through David Jones. Levis said the latter is currently negotiating its debut into the territory of Darwin.
“The brand hasn’t been represented in Darwin other than the Cue store, and Veronika Maine has become a strong and outstanding brand. We’ve never had to tweak the product [for the climate]; Cue’s been available in places like Townsville and Cairns for nearly 40 years and it’s been the same from the beginning. It works.”
Assia Benmedjdoub