18 NOVEMBER 2004

Karl Lagerfeld, whose first collaboration with H&M debuted this week, has declared he will never work with the Swedish retailer again after it produced his designs in larger sizes. The style guru, who underwent a dramatic transformation when he lost over six and a half stone two years ago, was apparently incensed at the idea of big-boned consumers wearing his clothes.

"What I designed was fashion for slender and slim people," he said. "That was the original idea."

The 66-year-old was also frustrated by the retail giant’s strategy of restricting sales to 20 select outlets across Europe. "It was great to work with the people at H&M as we all helped each other to make it a success," he said. "But the incomprehensible decisions of the management in Stockholm have taken away any desire to do it again."

"They did not make the clothes in sufficient quantities. I find it embarrassing that H&M let down so many people. I don't think that is very kind, especially for people in small towns and countries in Eastern Europe. It is snobbery created by anti-snobbery."