Comments on: Target Saying No to Long Term Designer Partnerships

By: anne

anne — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:32:23 +0000

Years ago Isaac use to make things that sold at Nieman’s, Saks etc, and he was in his 20′s and hungry. Now if a door is open he wants in. I think he has talent, but unfortunately he is
greedy and quality is not his No ! or 2 or 3. I saw his stuff at Target and can’t imagine which
exec. said go on it, It was all of the above, he didn’t last at Liz Claiborne and now he’s on QVC.
He is selling among a lot of over priced others, psuedo driving moc. knockoff. The
reviews are that its way oversized and flimsy. Poor Isaac. Maybe he’ll get the messages.
I think in this crazy world everyone has to put their best effort forth. In his case excellent
interesting fabrics , enviable worksmanship and humility.

By: KBAM

KBAM — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:50:03 +0000

I’m in complete agreement with ModernLunacy. The Mizrahi stuff never fit properly and was often made from oddly-colored or -patterned fabrics. I have never purchased even one piece from that collection. I like the Mossimo line a lot better, and it’s usually half the price. Target could use a better “career” sort of section, but I think they could do that with out a collection that was so self-consciously “hip.”

By: modernlunacy

modernlunacy — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:38:23 +0000

I think Target is definitely in a transition mode with their fashion direction. A few random observations:

- The Isaac Mizrahi line has never, ever done anything for me. The cut always seemed boxy, the material was cheap (enough polyester, Isaac) and the colors /overall design all cause me to laugh out loud in the store and wonder if Isaac was trying to purposely sabotage his Target deal with these gawd-awful clothes. Some may argue that these are aimed at a 35-and-over demographic, but I am now 36 and have been consistently disappointed by these dowdy cuts, cheap fabrics and overall fugliness for so long. I will not be sad to see this line go.

- The Go International guest designer stuff may be of iffy quality, but there are some cute pieces among the lines. Unfortunately, having lived in Austin, Nashville and Santa Fe in the last couple of years, I have never found a nicely stocked display of these. They are always picked over. I’m not going to camp outside the Target to get in first for a Go International product; why can’t they keep these things in stock? I don’t want to play the sizing game by chancing an internet order, paying shipping fees each way.

- The Go International lines, in spite of whatever argument you may want to make about quality vs. price, are clearly selling like hotcakes. Money talks, and these collections have been getting more and more hype as each new one is unveiled, garnering Target more publicity. The Go stuff is selling out and rarely do I see pieces on the clearance rack - I see tons of Isaac’s stuff there. So naturally they’re going to go where the hype/excitement and the money is - that’s smart business for Target.

After all, Target broke from the pack of its competitors (K-Mart, anyone?) by keeping things fresh, new and hip, and it’s clearly worked well so far.

So I say get those shapeless fluorescent polyester Isaac wool dresses out the door as soon as you can, Target, and keep refining the new stuff. It’s been the key to your success in recent years, so why change a good trend?

By: cara_starr

cara_starr — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 07:57:30 +0000

it’s funny because, when i first heard the news that Isaac was leaving, i began to notice that the Merona line was getting extra attention. More signage, display, etc. So in a way i’m not surprised that they are making this decision. it already looks like they are going to pump up their own “line” instead. But Merona? ugh. it needs a new name.