Yesterday, the social media network feeds were buzzing with the rumour of the possible collaboration between H&M and Paris design house Lanvin.

This morning the news would turn official as inboxes worldwide are buzzing with the official press release from H&M announcing its next designer collaboration will be with Lanvin, one of the most influential brands of the 21st century. Designed by Lanvin’s artistic director Alber Elbaz and menswear designer Lucas Ossendrijver, the collection will go on sale in around 200 H&M stores.

It will be launched November 20th in North America and on November 23rd elsewhere. The collection will provide both womenswear and menswear and is to be revealed to the world on November 2nd, three weeks before the clothes hit the store.

To date the launch of Lanvin for H&M is one of the most anticipated events of the year.

“H&M approached us to collaborate and see if we could translate the dream we created at Lanvin to a wider audience, not just a dress for less. I have said in the past that I would never do a mass-market collection, but what intrigued me was the idea of H&M going luxury rather than Lanvin going public. This has been an exceptional exercise, where two companies at opposite poles can work together because we share the same philosophy of bringing joy and beauty to men and women around the world.” Alber Elbaz, artistic director of Lanvin.

“We are thrilled about Lanvin’s collection for H&M, it is such an exciting moment. Lanvin will bring to H&M a luxurious French tradition that is also modern and playful. It is very much a Lanvin collection, using their cut and tailoring, with sharp focus on shape and details for both women and men. The launch in November is going to be full of wonderful surprises.” Margareta van den Bosch, creative advisor at H&M.

In 2001, Elbaz joined Lanvin as the artistic director and has since transformed the Paris-based label, founded in 1889 by Jeanne Lanvin, into a fashion powerhouse bursting with ideas and creativity. Alber Elbaz has pioneered some of the biggest trends of the past decade – ribbon, bows, pearls, raw edges, sumptuous colour, and metallic embellishment and many others.

Elbaz’s mastery of cut and instinct for cloth leaves a very personal signature on his work, making all Lanvin clothes instantly recognizable. Alber Elbaz has also transformed the male wardrobe, bringing a relaxed elegance to men’s clothing as special as the womenswear.

Lanvin is the latest brand to collaborate with H&M, with previous collections designed by the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney, Comme des Garçons, and Sonia Rykiel.

In a new twist, the Lanvin for H&M collection will be revealed to the world through a special film to be released on November 2nd.

The film will be available for everyone to see online at www.hm.com.