J.Crew Partners with Net-a-Porter {going international baby!}

A big "thanks!" to TweedyBird, Pamela, HDNB, Raina, & Brooke, who shared the following news from Racked NY (click here) and WWD (click here).

Unlikely Bedfellows
By Elizabeth Licata
Racked NY
February 22, 2010

J.Crew will be sold on Net-a-Porter starting in May. Net-a-Porter has a reputation for high-end, high-fashion clothes with a certain amount of editorial, insidery street cred. J.Crew does not.

But J.Crew wants to go global, as it currently only sells in the U.S. and Japan, and Net-a-Porter can give it that, as the online retailer ships to more than 170 countries. To sweeten the deal, J.Crew will be offering new styles and colors that will be exclusive to Net-a-Porter.

I think it is a smart move for J.Crew to enter the international market by using Net-a-Porter's existing channels. However, I am not such a fan about J.Crew offering styles exclusive to Net-a-Porter.

Incidentally, I find it interesting how J.Crew's CEO Mickey Drexler makes it a big point to say that J.Crew can't be found through any other outlet (e.g. distributor/ seller). That J.Crew is exclusive to J.Crew stores only— which not only builds the brand, but saves costs on not sharing the profit pie with anyone else. Now J.Crew has just gone ahead to have their products sold through another company! I should add that I totally get the purpose of this is to go global (and that makes complete sense to me). However, there is a bit of irony here. :)

What are your thoughts on this partnership? Do you think it is a smart move for J.Crew to enter an international market through Net-a-Porter's interface?