Roberto Cavalli to design H&M collection

ROME - Roberto Cavalli is set to be the latest designer to create a collection for Swedish clothing giant H&M, he announced Wednesday, following in the footsteps of Karl Lagerfeld and Stella McCartney.

The Italian will create 25 pieces for women, mainly evening wear, and 20 for men, as well as accessories and lingerie. They will be available in about 200 shops from November 8.

"I hope that on December 8 there will be nothing left in the shops! I am very flattered to be the first Italian chosen by H&M," Cavalli said from the Pitti Uomo fashion fair in Florence, according to Italy's Ansa news agency.

"It is true that our creations are closer to haute couture, but I thought of all the young people who stopped me in the street, and I thought I could finally make them happy," he said.

"I have dedicated this collection to young people, who will be able to wear a Cavalli piece of clothing for the New Year."

Margareta Van Den Bosch of H&M said the most expensive items would be about 150 euros (200 dollars).

In 2004, the Hennes Mauritz group asked Lagerfeld, the designer for the Chanel fashion house, to create a collection for them. He was followed by British designer McCartney in 2005, designers Viktor and Rolf in 2006 and the singer Madonna in spring this year.

Created in 1947, H&M now has 1,345 shops in 24 countries.

Meanwhile, Cavalli, whose business recorded a turnover of seven billion euros last year, said he was considering "taking on an associate so we could be quoted on the stock exchange".

His wife Eva, who works alongside the designer, added: "We are currently in discussion with fashion groups and investment funds. We will need at least a year because these are decisions that need to be taken carefully."