Dubs Vs. Duds
The right collaboration can change everything. The wrong one? It’s like a bad outfit at a wedding, and everyone notices. Fashion’s biggest names have taken risks that either soared or slipped. It’s not just about who teamed up but how. After the highlights, we’ll check out the misfires too.
1. Louis Vuitton x Supreme
In 2017, Louis Vuitton and Supreme shattered barriers when they debuted their collaboration at Paris Fashion Week. Pieces like the iconic box logo trunk redefined status symbols. Demand was overwhelming, with resale prices skyrocketing almost instantly after launch.
Unboxing $70,000 Worth of Supreme x Louis Vuitton!!! | nitro:licious by Wendy Lam
2. Adidas x Kanye West
Adidas struck gold partnering with Kanye West in 2015, birthing the Yeezy line. The Yeezy Boost 350 blurred the lines between performance and lifestyle and sparked long overnight queues. Adidas’ quarterly earnings reflected the impact, cementing Yeezy as a defining phenomenon.
3. Gucci x The North Face
Mixing Gucci's maximalist luxury with The North Face’s rugged practicality seemed improbable at first. Yet when the collection launched, it resonated immediately. Outdoor gear became glamorous without losing authenticity. A bold new aesthetic emerged in 2021, celebrated for marrying exploration and high fashion.
4. H&M x Karl Lagerfeld
When H&M announced its collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld in 2004, the concept of high-low fashion changed overnight. Lagerfeld’s capsule sold out within hours across Europe. It marked the first time a fast-fashion giant proved luxury’s temptation could be democratized.
Karl Lagerfeld for H&M: Wool Coat by ROY
5. Nike x Off-White
What happens when deconstruction meets sportswear heritage? Nike’s 2017 collaboration with Virgil Abloh’s Off-White answered that with "The Ten," a series reimagining classic sneakers like the Air Jordan 1. These pieces were art projects, each pair pulling apart and remixing the DNA of Nike’s icons.
6. Dior x Air Jordan
2020 was the year Dior and Air Jordan rewrote sneaker prestige. Limited to just 8,500 pairs, the Dior x Air Jordan 1 featured Italian leather and hand-painted details. The collaboration fused sports culture and haute couture, commanding prices exceeding nearly $6,000 on resale markets.
7. Uniqlo x Jil Sander
Uniqlo and Jil Sander debuted "Uniqlo +J," focusing on minimalist, refined basics. What made it special was the luxury design made genuinely accessible. Launched in 2009, its influence lingered long after and inspired a permanent shift toward polished essentials in mass-market fashion.
[Uniqlo x Jil Sander] +J Oversized Long Sleeve Shirts | Review & Styling by Ruey
8. Versace x H&M
Loud and unapologetically maximalist, Versace’s 2011 H&M collaboration embraced the brand’s golden era fully. Studded leather and gold chains flew off shelves in minutes. The launch party even featured Prince performing to underline how explosive the hype truly became.
Versace x H&M Men Sneakers (review) by ROY
9. Puma x Rihanna
When Rihanna took over as creative director for Puma’s women's line, it wasn’t business as usual. Her Fenty Puma Creepers blended edgy street style with athletic comfort, selling out in under 35 minutes. Rihanna’s 2014 vision injected fresh cultural relevance into the brand and brought back loyal fans.
Puma Fenty Lifestyle Shoes - On Feet & Unboxing ASMR! (4K) by PlaySportsUnboxed
10. Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya
At Paris Fashion Week in 2019, Zendaya’s collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger brought an electric energy to the runway. Inspired by the Harlem Renaissance, the collection celebrated empowerment and self-expression. Critics praised it for pushing fashion conversations forward while delivering timeless, wearable pieces full of movement and pride.
⛔️ EXPOSING Tommy Hilfiger x Zendaya | We spend 2000$ on this ***👿🤦🏻♀️by Elizaveta Sullivan
For every collab that made history, there’s one that left everyone wondering what went wrong. Let’s take a closer look at the ones that missed the mark.
1. Target x Missoni
In 2011, Target’s Missoni collaboration created chaos and not the good kind. Shoppers crashed the website within hours, and many never even got their orders. What could have been a celebration of affordable Italian chic turned into a customer service nightmare.
Missoni for Target by hollyyve
2. Prada x Adidas
When Prada joined forces with Adidas, expectations were sky-high. Instead, the minimalistic Superstars and bowling bag underwhelmed both sneakerheads and luxury loyalists. Priced steeply but lacking innovation, the 2019 collection felt more like a branding exercise than a creative fusion.
ADIDAS x PRADA | Unboxing + Try On by Robert Dmitri
3. Gap x Yeezy
Yeezy was expected to reinvent Gap for a new generation. However, the 2020 partnership stumbled through endless delays and lukewarm reception. Despite initial excitement, product scarcity, high prices, and internal friction between Kanye West and Gap executives soured the collaboration’s long-term prospects.
Well This Is Disappointing...Yeezy x Gap Balenciaga Hoodie Review by Elliot Page
4. Balmain x H&M
Luxury at an accessible price sounded perfect in 2015 until the shelves were bare within minutes. Balmain’s H&M collection launched with wild hype but collapsed into chaos. Scalpers dominated, and many walked away frustrated. The aftertaste? More frenzy than fashion, and not in a good way.
My BIG FAT Balmain x h&m HAUL + TIPS how to shop designer colab by Anita Kus Munsanje
5. Coach x Disney
In theory, Coach and Disney sounded like a whimsical dream. In practice, the 2016 collection confused loyalists of both brands. Disney’s playful imagery clashed with Coach’s classic leather aesthetic. Neither nostalgic enough nor modern enough, the line drifted awkwardly between markets.
New Disney Coach collection and the Disney Springs exclusive pieces by BETTYSAYS
6. Under Armour x A$AP Rocky
Under Armour’s collaboration with A$AP Rocky had ambition but little payoff. Inspired by the 90s skate culture, the SRLo sneakers missed their mark: they were expensive and misaligned with Under Armour’s core audience. Critics panned the design as trying too hard, and consumers in 2018 stayed away.
ASAP Rocky UA Osiris D3 Shoe Unboxing + Review by Sneaker News
7. Reebok x Cardi B
Reebok’s collaboration with Cardi B, launched in 2020, aimed high but delivered inconsistently. Although Cardi’s star power attracted attention, the designs didn’t bring anything new to the sneaker world. Despite some quick sellouts, the line failed to generate lasting buzz.
REEBOK x CARDI B SHOE REVIEW!!! by Simply Simone
8. Rodarte x Target
When Rodarte brought its ethereal aesthetic to Target, excitement fizzled fast. In 2009, the pieces were criticized for feeling cheaply made and poorly finished. Many fans of the brand felt disconnected from the collection's look and quality, turning the collab into a missed opportunity.
$700 Target 20th Anniversary Collaborators Collection Try-On Haul by Jessica Y. Flores
9. Roberto Cavalli x H&M
Expectations were wild when Roberto Cavalli partnered with H&M in 2007. Unfortunately, quality issues plagued the release: materials felt flimsy, and designs didn’t transition well to fast fashion. The collection sold quickly but was met with customer disappointment.
Animal Instinct by Roberto Cavalli for H&M by Vanessa Forns Simón
10. Maison Martin Margiela x H&M
Avant-garde designs can be exciting unless mass audiences don’t understand them. Maison Martin Margiela’s 2012 H&M collaboration faithfully reinterpreted archival pieces but baffled mainstream shoppers. Oversized fits and steep prices alienated casual buyers, leaving stores heavily stocked and the collaboration viewed as a misunderstood gamble.
