Designers defend cheap and cheerful gear
Speaking just days before the limited edition Stella McCartney line hit Target stores throughout Australia, Conran said designers did not engage in such deals for publicity but rather to encourage "democratic fashion".
The highly acclaimed English designer, who has categories across womenswear, menswear, fragrance, furniture and homewares, argued that if labels maintained their aesthetic integrity, they were not at risk of losing their position in the luxurywear market.
"If I can make a bag just as good as the British 500 pound version and sell it for 35 pounds, then who's right and who's wrong? It's cruel to create an urge but make it unattainable - only available to those in the domain of the rich."
Conran, who has a diffusion line with British department store Debenhams, even went on to allege that fashion icon Coco Chanel collaborated with a Parisian chain store in her early years as a business woman.
The designer's comments came during the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival business seminar earlier this month, after a leading fashion consultant dubbed such collaborations as "marketing" ploys.
Jean Jacques "It is often a speculation for free marketing," he said.
Australian designer Toni Maticevski also ventured into the sticky debate recently after he announced plans for a more affordable capsule collection with department store Myer. The collection, released in stores over the autumn/winter season, would see prices drop by up to $400 a piece.
Like Conrad, Maticevski defended his decision to partake in the venture.
"It's still design driven and quality driven," he said at the time.
No plans for further collaborations have been announced by either McCartney or Maticevksi.