I Hate the Word 'Cheap'; Karl Lagerfeld on why he is about to introduce a line of 'inexpensive' clothes for H&M.(Interview)

Byline: Jenny Barchfield

Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld, the Kaiser of Couture, has decided to give the rag trade a try. The German-born couturier recently presented his debut collection for Sweden's fast-fashion company H&M. Lagerfeld spoke to NEWSWEEK's Jenny Barchfield in Paris about his attempt to make inexpensive clothes as fashionable as luxury lines, and the effects it will have on fashion. Excerpts:

BARCHFIELD: Why did you decide to work with H&M?

LAGERFELD: Because I believe inexpensive clothes--I never say "cheap," I hate the word "cheap"; people are cheap but clothes are expensive or inexpensive--should be well designed. After all, inexpensive cars are well designed, inexpensive furniture at IKEA is well designed. So design should be good on every level.

What do you want to achieve with H&M?

What they wanted and one of the things that I thought was attractive was there would not be fake Chanel. In fact, they have had enough of that. So I did it the way I like people to look, the way I dress myself: the graphic version of black and white clothes, white shirts, high collars, tight jackets.

So it was actually more personal than the collections you design for Chanel?