Wal-Mart to Buy Tommy Hilfiger?

You betcha they are mirroring Target.  About a year ago there was huge press over Walmart disastifaction with the numbers for its women’s clothing division. “What do you mean they don’t want to live in Timberline boots and Levi Strauss suits?” You can hear the heads hit the floor and roll, sort of, yuch, as the numbers continued to not impress corporate.

What this really means is the end of the line for Hilfiger as those of us old enough to witness its birth think of it. Hilfiger has been fighting status diminution for years, and although being absorbed (yes, absorbed) by Walmart will keep the company in the black for now, the low-end market will result in a decreased design budget and dictate that profits come from sweat shop economics. Plus, as USA today commented a month ago, “[A]nalysts and investors think a purchase would put the world’s largest retailer too far from its low-cost roots.” 

Hey! Let’s think about this stupid attitude. Why does low cost have to be equated with bad taste. Think Ikea and its motto, democratic design. I agree completely with promoting the demographic spread of design consciousness (unless suddenly Hilfiger decides he is in absolute love with fanny packs and Mom Jeans). As for who is “chicking’ the production line (well, you know it’s not guys manning those sewing machines for 12 cents a day), outsourcing could become the great economic equalizer. Third world countries have to develop a labor clout somehow. These practical slaves would eventually have to organize and exercise the clout such organization can bring (in about three generations, if ever, I know), but a girl can dream, can’t she?

So yeah, what Laura34 said.