Kate Moss to design a collection for Topshop

LONDON, Sept 22: Kate Moss will design a collection for Topshop, the British fashion chain announced on Wednesday, saying it aimed to turn clothes created by the supermodel into a global brand.

The deal, timed to coincide with London Fashion Week, is another upswing in the fortunes of the British model, who a year ago was dropped by advertisers after being caught on camera snorting what appeared to be cocaine.

It also gives the British chain, known for selling catwalk styles at discount prices, a fresh dose of glamour just as it plans to launch a flagship store in the United States next year.

''Kate has a unique position as a true fashion icon and I look forward to helping develop ''Kate Moss for Topshop'' into a global brand,'' said Topshop's owner, billionaire Philip Green, who is chairman of Britain's Arcadia retail group.

The announcement confirms speculation sparked by Moss's surprise front row appearance at Topshop's fashion show at the start of this week, where she had paparazzi bulbs flashing as she sat giggling and gossiping with Green.

When the 32-year old, who is feted as a style icon by British fashion editors, was photographed earlier this month sporting a 2.99-pound bag sold by British retailer Superdrug it caused a sellout.

''I have always been a big fan of Topshop and regularly shop there. I love what they stand for and am very excited at the thought of working with them. It's going to be great fun,'' Moss said a statement.

DISPOSABLE CHIC

Topshop said the collection would launch in spring/summer 2007 across its 308 British stores as well as being available in its international outlets in Asia and the United States and on Topshop.com, now its second second-biggest store by sales.

The signing also opens a new front in the battle of ''disposable chic'', the phenomenon of retailers selling catwalk-styled clothes so cheaply that people buy armfuls and throw them away after only a few wearings.

While other retailers saw sales shrink last year, sales at Topshop's flagship Oxford Circus, London, emporium reached some 200 million dollars.

Topshop is hoping their Kate Moss collection will generate a frenzy much like the one seen at the U S stores of Swedish rival H&M last year, when customers lined up for hours to buy an oversized sweater designed by Stella McCartney.

''It's mutually beneficial. Topshop benefits from her notoriety and her never-ending appearances in the papers, and Kate gets another cheque to add to the millions she's already made this year,'' said Bryan Roberts, an industry analyst from London trend spotting agency Planet Retail.

Moss has proved more influential than many designers today.

What she is wearing often becomes a huge trend for girls in their teens and women in their twenties and fashion editors on both sides of the Atlantic have credited her with sparking the return to fashion of skinny jeans, mini-dresses and hot-pants.

Neither Topshop nor Moss has put any value on their deal.

Moss has featured in at least 18 major campaigns this season -- from Dior to makeup brand Rimmel -- and newspapers have reported she is earning more than before the drugs scandal.

After the photographs were published last year Moss went to a drug rehabilitation clinic and issued an official apology for her behaviour.

REUTERS