Lilly wrote:
I don`t know what to say about MmM currently, I have the feeling the prices increased a little bit. That would be no problem but I also have the feeling that the stock got a bit lower aswell.
That`s kinda frustrating seeing as the Irongate Print was quite a long time available even on CDJapan (at least as far as I remember because I bought my Irongate easily at CDJ), the new Chuchrgate Print on the other hand was sold out in one second and well I don`t know if it ever will show up on CDJ. I know I have seen it in Closet Child Shinjuku and was aslmost twice as expensive as the original price. So I don`t get what happened there.
I love some of the new designs but there are alsop often designs I don`t digg recently
Lilly, I think it might seem the stock got lower just because the demand for MmM (especially its prints) has increased a lot in the past few years? It's the impression I have anyway.
Because I do remember Iron Gate was available for quite a while as well because I also bought my skirt from CD Japan (16000yen, if I am not mistaken). And I remember it remained in stock weeks after that before finally selling out.
Also, MmM was always bashed back then. They complained about Mana's supposed lack of creativity with his designs (and I keep seeing BABY and AP releasing the same things with different prints over and over since then), they complained about his black x navy combo (and now it seems to be the apple of many brands' eyes, including AatP's and Mille Fleurs'), they even complained about how tacky and over the top iron gate was! And I will refrain from mentioning what Sweet Lolita became here (note: I have nothing against it, I am just stating a fact).
Personally, I am not very fond of prints in general. They bore me too fast; iron gate is the only MmM piece with print I own and I only wore it twice since I bought it (2005). And I already considered selling it, but just can't. It was my first MmM piece. Also, with people's obsession with his prints in the past couple of years, arch print and iron gate became two of the most coveted ones on the lolita community. So I am instinctively clinging to it.
But like you and Geisha very well said, I have seen both these and other famous MmM prints at Closet Child. They had a sale back in July and you could see almost all of his prints for 'reasonable' prices (30000-40000yen, nothing like 85000yen; whoa, I am impressed). I even remember looking/touching those pieces and wondering how they would sell really fast if CC had put them at their website.
But some of the newer pieces are there right after being released as well, like Mana's floral navy dress from G&L Bible 33. And it makes me believe some people might also buy these clothes for special occasions/photoshoots and then sell them to get another new release.
And then it's just like a snow ball: MmM produces a few pieces, people run to buy them, they sell out, people enjoy them for a while, resell for a high price because they are rare, fans obsessed with the idea of owning such famous prints are willing to pay even higher for them and so on… And that makes me happy I don't wear EGL.
Gosh, long comment is long. Sorry!