As part of its ongoing commitment to fostering diverse creative talent within the fashion industry, H&M has tapped Polish designer Madga Butrym for a special capsule collection that was inspired by Slavic beauty and resilience. Available to shop now, the 46-piece collection, ranging from $18 to $549 in price, draws from Butrym’s signatures: structured outerwear, sequin and lace evening gowns adorned with floral appliqués, and body-hugging separates covered in dynamic rose prints.
This partnership also marks Butrym’s 10-year anniversary by serving as both a retrospective and an introduction to some of the brand’s most enduring designs. “With a normal collection, you are trying to find something new, to push it further, to share the story in a different way, to show the flowers in a different way,” Butrym tells Harper’s Bazaar. “This is more about what we’ve done, which was very thoughtful for me too.”
The classic yet complex rose has been a central design motif in Burtym’s universe. “It’s just like a Slavic woman,” she says. “The rose is so bold, yet delicate, and then you have the thorns that keep you protected.” For this collection, Butrym was in part inspired by a trip to the mountains in the south of Poland, where she saw women wearing head coverings covered in roses. This is characterized by brightly colored roses captured at the peak of bloom on silk scarves, sewn onto jersey, and twisted in rhinestones and cotton.
Perhaps the strength of this collection lies in not only its boldness but also its duality. Both minimalists and maximalists can find a piece that resonates with them, from a black two-piece wool suit to a red satin gown whose double-sided ruffles (shiny on one side, matte on the other for a dazzling effect) have been manipulated to look like petals.
When it comes to Butrym’s favorite pieces out of the collection, the burgundy double-breasted leather coat, which she originally introduced under her eponymous brand in black, is a standout. “You can put it on anything and you feel quite special,” she says. “Sometimes I wear it with a track suit. Because of the shoulder pads, you don’t need to style it that much. It is quite a statement.” Other favorites, of course, are the scarves.
“When we collaborate with somebody, we’re always looking for a very strong point of view, a strong signature—a kind of uniqueness, something you don’t see anywhere else,” H&M’s creative advisor, Ann-Sofie Johansson, tells Bazaar. “We thought it would be really nice to be able to work with a designer from Poland—we’ve never done that before—and also a female designer, female creator.” As female creative directors become an increasingly rare find within the industry, Butrym’s continued success over a decade no less, is a testament to her resilience. Just like a rose.
While Butrym’s designs are made to be seen, the designer herself is a bit shy. “My family is such a balance for me. As an outsider from Poland, the brand name is not that well-known, so when I saw all the plans with the billboards and then my name everywhere, I said, ‘Oh, my God, what have I done?’ Like, this is quite scary.” But despite the initial fear of putting her brand, and herself, on the global platform that H&M has created, Butrym realizes the importance of collaborations like these, especially as an independent designer in today’s industry. “I felt quite sensitive and touched by it when I saw my name with H&M. Even now, it is such a hard time in fashion, and being able to go through that, for so many years, is so powerful.”
Shop the H&M x Magda Butrym Collection Below
Printed Silk Scarf
Swimsuit with Rose Appliqué
Tailored Wool Pants
H&M Tie-Belt Leather Coat
Rose-Appliquéd Leather Sandals
Leggings with Rose Appliqué
Rhinestone-Embellished Flower Clip Earrings
Oversized Wool Blazer
Ruffled Satin Bustier Top
Scarf Cap
H&M Oversized Reversible Bomber Jacket
Rose-Appliquéd Bodysuit with Cutout Detail
Sequined Maxi Dress with Rose Appliqué
Oval Sunglasses with Rose Motif
Patterned T-Shirt with Rose Appliqué
H&M Ruffled Satin Dress
Rhinestone-Chain Lariat Necklace
Maxi Skirt with Rose Appliqué
Rhinestone-Embellished Flower Ring
Oversized T-Shirt with Motif
