Collaborations continue to rule the fashion industry. If there is one way to get people to buy, it’s offering them a limited-edition exclusive product. Sure, designers will continue to churn out collections season after season and have their carryover styles, but collaborations give people something more unique, rare, and coveted. While some collaborations will last for a few seasons, most are one-offs, meaning once they are gone, they are gone. As style becomes more individualistic, it’s no wonder people are coveting more elusive, collaborative pieces. 

2021 was quite a year for fashion collaborations as we began to emerge from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to the rollout of the vaccine. Merchandise that was once deemed collaborations have now been termed “hacker” projects (we’re looking at you Gucci and Balenciaga.) As 2021 was a comeback year for fashion, it was also a comeback year for collaborations. Who came out on top?