Fashion Crowdsourcing in Action: Derek Lam Goes to eBay with a Collection Chosen by Consumers

Pictured: The final five, Derek Lam for eBay Collection.

Just in!  The votes for the dresses from Derek Lam's collection for eBay are in and counted.  Above are the five winning styles, and I have to say these are great choices!  The long black gown on the right might even be Oscar worthy when accessorized with some bling! :)  Some of you may recall that Lam  unveiled a ready-to-wear collection of original designs at a presentation during New York Fashion Week in February 2011. Shoppers were then invited  to vote for their favorites on eBay.com.  Following are the final selections with prices in US dollars. (pictured above from left to right above.)

•  The Black Tie Dress – Black cotton poplin black tie evening dress | Price: $275.00
•  The Boho Dress – Multi-color floral print georgette boho halter dress | Price: $295.00
•  The Sun Dress – Indigo denim sun dress | Price: $195.00
•  The Shift Dress – Black cotton poplin shift dress with peplum back | Price: $175.00
•  The Chemise Dress – Multi-color floral print georgette chemise dress | Price: $225.00

Look for the pieces on sale on eBay on May 10th.  I really like the innovative idea of crowd-sourcing a designer collection via eBay.   Fashion should be for the end-user, the customer who wears the clothes to select, not the buyer from the department store.  With this collection, there is no doubt that the customers have selected what they want to wear.

Derek Lam to Design Crowd Sourced Collection for eBay from NYFW

 Pictured: One of my favorites from Derek Lam's Spring 2011 collection at New York Fashion week. (photo:  Getty Images)

This just in from The Recessionista's radar alert system.  High-end designer Derek Lam has announced plans to design and produce the first-ever crowd sourced collection exclusively on eBay.  Coach previously crowd sourced a handbag collection by letting customers vote online for their favorites. Lam will unveil a ready-to-wear collection of original designs at a presentation during New York Fashion Week in February 2011 and invite shoppers to vote for their favorites on eBay.com. The voting will allow consumers to raise their collective voice about which pieces are produced for the exclusive collection. This is quite a different approach than the usual fashion week routine of exhibiting for retailers, who choose which pieces from a designer's collection to stock in  stores.  I like this approach.  Fashion Week should be for the end-user, the customer who wears the clothes, not the buyer for the department store.  The final collection will be available for purchase in Spring/Summer 2011 at  fixed price points (read that as "Buy It Now").  The goal is to deliver shoppers immediate, in season access to Lam’s signature designs at prices that will presumably be below his collections at Barney's, exclusively on eBay.   Kudos to Derek Lam for taking an innovative approach to fashion week. I look forward to voting on the collection!