The collection launches April 7 to coincide with the opening of the exclusively H&M-sponsored exhibition Fashion Forward: 300 Years of Fashion at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Prep work for this collection started in May 2015, when H&M designers dug into the Louvre's archives to develop motifs inspired by everything from French painter Gustave Moreau (whose work is reflected in the collection's palette of dusty blues and powdery pinks) to clothing styles dating back 300 years (as seen in a jacquard coat, crafted with recycled polyester made from plastic bottles). The result is a 35-piece collection that marries fine art with sophisticated sustainable materials.
Standouts include a ball gown with a deep neckline and trompe l'oeil print made from organic cotton, a sleeveless organic silk dress featuring Sandro Botticelli's La Primavera painting, and an organic cotton poplin top with a placement print of marble statues. Another highlight in this year's Conscious Exclusive? The introduction of three wedding dresses, the brand's first in this collection. Ranging from $299 to $650, designs include a gown with a plunging neckline, a high-cut white lace long-sleeve dress, and an intricately beaded column dress.