Diffusion line

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A diffusion line (also known as a bridge line) [1] is a secondary line of merchandise created by a high-end fashion house or fashion designer that retails at lower prices. [2] These ranges are separate from a fashion house's "signature line", or principal artistic line, that typically retails at much higher prices. Diffusion products may be on sale alongside designers' signature lines but they can also be made available at concession outlets and certain chain stores. The use of a diffusion line is a part of the strategy of massification where luxury brands attempt to reach a broader market in order to increase revenue and brand recognition.

Diffusion lines serve several purposes for designers. They can substantially increase sales volumes as their products become more affordable to a wider audience at the lower price point, with the designer at the same time leveraging the desirability of their premium ranges to create a kind of halo effect. They can also be a response to offset the effect of chain stores copying their products and undercutting the designer's prices. [3]

Armani Exchange in Singapore Axsg.jpg
Armani Exchange in Singapore

Diffusion lines

Diffusion lineBrandNotesReference(s)
10 Crosby Derek Lam [4]
AAPE by A Bathing Ape A Bathing Ape
Armani Exchange, Armani Jeans, Emporio Armani Armani [1] [5]
BDL Ben de Lisi For Debenhams [5]



Cheap & Chic, Love Moschino, Moschino Jeans Moschino [5]
CK, CK Jeans, Calvin Klein Underwear Calvin Klein [5]
CDG, Comme des Garçons Homme, Comme des Garçons PLAY, Comme des Garçons BLACK, Comme des Garçons Girl, Comme des Garçons SHIRT, Comme des Garçons WALLET Comme des Garçons
D&G Dolce & Gabbana Closed 2011 [1] [5]
DKNY Donna Karan [5]
DRKSHDW, Rick Owens Lillies Rick Owens [6]
Farhi Nicole Farhi [5]
Fendissime, Fendi 365, Fendi Country, Fendi Jeans, Fendi Maglia Fendi [7] [8]
Giamba Giambattista Valli [9]
Halston III, H Halston Halston
Hugo Boss
ICE, ICE JEANS, SPORT ICE Iceberg
Pleats Please, Homme Plisse, ME issey miyake Issey Miyake Pleats Please launched 1993, ME issey miyake launched 2001, Homme Plisse launched 2013 [10] [11] [12]
JPG Jean Paul Gaultier
Just Cavalli, Cavalli Class, Roberto Cavalli Sport Roberto Cavalli [13]
Karl Karl Lagerfeld [14] [15]
Kate Spade Saturday Kate Spade Closed 2015
Lacoste Live! Lacoste
L'Agent Agent Provocateur [16]
Marc New York Andrew Marc [17]
Marc by Marc Jacobs, The Marc Jacobs, Heaven Marc Jacobs Marc by Marc Jacobs closed 2015, The Marc Jacobs launched 2019, Heaven launched 2020 [18] [19] [20]
Max&Co, SportMax, 'S Max Mara Max Mara
McQ Alexander McQueen "suspended" 2022 [21] [22] [23]
MICHAEL by Michael Kors Michael Kors [24] [25]
Mimi Holliday Damaris [26]
M Missoni, Missoni Mare Missoni
Miss Wu Jason Wu [27]
MM6 Maison Margiela
MW Matthew Williamson For Macy's [1]
Notte Marchesa [28] [29]
Overture Judith Leiber [1]
Pierre Balmain Balmain [1]
Philipp Plein Fetish Philipp Plein
R.E.D. Valentino Valentino Will close 2024 [4] [30]
Richard Chai Love Richard Chai [4]
See Chloé [4]
Simply Vera Vera Wang For Kohl's and Harris Scarfe [31] [32]
Sonia Sonia Rykiel [33] [34]
T Alexander Wang [35]
Tommy Jeans Tommy Hilfiger
Valentino Garavani Valentino
Versus, Versace Jeans Couture, Versace Collection, Versace Classic V2, V2 Versace [36] [37]
Victoria Victoria Beckham [38]
Wannabe Patrick Cox [39]
Y-3, Y's, S'YTE, Ground Y Yohji Yamamoto Y-3 for Adidas
Z Zegna Ermenegildo Zegna
Z Spoke Zac Posen For Saks [4] [40]
Zac Zac Posen Zac Posen [41]

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