COLLABORATION ANTICIPATION: Kirna Zabête Stays On The Team-Up Train With 9 West

Honestly, we had never thought of Kirna Zabête as the kind of store that was terribly concerned about mass appeal. It always struck The Shophound as a kind of fashion-first, price-is-no-object, if-you-can't-afford-it-you-don't-belong-there-anyway kind of place —and we mean that in the best way. Owners Beth Buccini and Sarah Easley have been doing some surprising brand repositioning lately. First there was Kirna Zabête's capsule collection for the Shops at Target program that debuted earlier this fall, and now comes word that next February the store will begin an extended collaboration with moderately priced shoe brand Nine West that will release new styles over the course of the following six months. WWD reports that the collections will include heels of all heights as well as flip-flops, and will retail for a very reasonable $49 to $169. The shoes will be available at both Kirna Zabête and Nine West stores as well as their respective websites along with a special selection of online retailers.

Easley and Buccini have already announced that their store will soon be moving to larger digs somewhere in the vicinity of its current, original location, and perhaps all of these mass market collaborations mean that the rarefied store may be looking to broaden its customer base in the future. Perhaps, next year, we may see a more accessible Kirna Zabête, which would be great as long as they don't abandon the high end that they have curated so well. Look for Kirna Zabête at Nine West to launch in February.

Nine West to Collaborate With Kirna Zabête (WWD)