By now most people know about the mad run on Target’s new Missoni line which crashed the retailer’s website and left many customers disappointed this week. It’s hard to imagine women fighting for a chance to buy clothing from Target, but by some miracle of marketing the company managed to convince thousands of us nationwide that the 400 piece collection was a “must have.”
Ebay vendors who managed to get a hold of these items while they were still available are having a field day. A sweater that was $49.99 at Target is going for upwards of $100 (plus shipping) on eBay. Fifty dollars is already high for a Target-brand garment, where a similar sweater from longtime label Merona goes for about $23.
Compared to the House of Missoni’s ready to wear line, it’s a steal. You can buy a sweater from Bluefly.com for $348 (reduced from the original price of $695). A knit dress will run you close to $1,000. Many of the Missoni items on Bluefly are temporarily out of stock, even at those prices.
Missoni is a family business dating back to 1953, when Rosita and Ottavio Missoni opened their first shop in Gallarte, Italy. Their grandaughter, Margherita is the brand’s current “ambassador,” according to New York Magazine. Her mother Angela is currently head designer and her daughter, Teresa, is learning the ropes.
Missoni is known for its “bold, geometric patterns” and signature zig-zag patterns in vivid colors. The company specializes in knitwear as well as design shoes, scarves, socks and other accessories. The Target collection includes housewares and children’s clothing.
Missoni was also the first designer to send models down the runway bra-less in sheer tops. Quite scandalous in 1967, it made brand famous worldwide. However, an invitation to the show in Florence, where the bra-less runway incident took place, didn’t come for some time after.
Target originally indicated the Missoni items would not be restocked but has apparently figured out a way to produce additional stock on “limited items” which will be available by week’s end, according to Agence France-Press. Somewhere factories are operating 24/7 churning out zig-zag patterned knit wear at a breakneck pace.