Here's an unexpected pairing: a children's wear brand, a French couturier and an opera house. But infact, Petit Bateau confirmed it teamed up with Christian Lacroix and the Paris National Opera on a capsule collection launching this December.
The collection consists of four styles for women and two for children and will be available in Petit Bateau stores and as well as the Opéra Garnier boutique in Paris (a concession run by
Galeries Lafayette).
"We are the first brand to develop this kind of partnership with them," said Patrick Pergament, chief executive officer of Petit Bateau.
Since Lacroix's couture house closed and reduced to a licensing operation in 2009, Lacroix has a thriving career designing exhibitions, hotels and stage costumes, including for the Paris opera. He is currently at work on Balanchine's "Le Palais de Cristal," with music by Georges Bizet, premiering in May at the Opéra Bastille.
Lacroix told WWD that Petit Bateau is synonymous with a happy childhood, and he "approached the collaboration with relish."
Lacroix created the line for both mother and daughter and felt it had to be "iconic." He created belted sailor-striped tops in navy and. He also added a tulle petticoat to give balletic volume to a monochromic skirt and embellished other items with velvet ribbons.
Prices in the collection range from 85 euros ($112) for a women's top to 250 euros ($330) for an evening dress in draped striped jersey. Children's items are priced at 50 euros ($66) for a top and 70 euros ($92) for a dress. The inside label states "Petit Bateau et Opéra National de Paris par Christian Lacroix."
Christophe Tardieu, deputy director of the Paris Opera, said the collaboration was part of a push to develop products with the Opéra National de Paris logo. He hopes to extend further into shoes, accessories and dancewear as well.
"We are convinced the Opéra de Paris brand has global recognition and is therefore valuable and can be commercially viable, so we are very keen to develop it. At the same time, we have to move cautiously, step by step. Starting with Petit Bateau and Christian Lacroix was a guarantee of security and of great quality," he said.
"If we do branch out into ballet shoes, leotards and dancewear, it is obvious that we have an enormous [potential] market overseas, given the reputation of our ballet," Tardieu added.
Petit Bateau has previously collaborated with contemporary brand Carven, vintage specialist Didier Ludot, luxury retailer 10 Corso Como and Japanese designer Tsumori Chisato.
"It's absolutely brilliant to bring people like that into our traditional French factories, which are 120 years old, and for people to suddenly find themselves having to do things that are a million miles removed from the underwear and pajamas they normally produce. It's a real electroshock for both sides," said Pergament.
