Derek Lam chats about retail at Parson’s panel
During a chat at Parsons The New School of Design, from which he graduated in 1990, Derek Lam revealed that he might want to expand his brand beyond the boutique and luxury department store niche.
Lam told WWD that he wants to find ways to reach the consumer in a more direct way and believes collaborations, such as those done with designer Topshop, could be the ticket to expanding his brand’s audience.
Wait, did he just say Topshop collaboration?
Yes, he did. And he went on to confirm his trust in retail.
“The best way to control your own destiny is through direct retail,” Lam said, reported by WWD. “I’m really trying to be in touch with the consumer.”
Right now, Lam is sold at top department stores, such as Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. Although he’s ready to evolve, he admits he’s no Burberry. WWD reported that he stuttered when discussing the British brand’s decision to live stream shows and sell directly off the runway. Apparently that isn’t the kind of evolution Lam is talking about.
H&M? Topshop? Gap? Where do you see a good spot for a Lam collab?