Targets pledges restock after Missoni stampede

WASHINGTON, Sept 14, 2011 (AFP) - US department store Target pledged Wednesday to restock some items from its cut-priced Missoni line, a day after online demand for the one-off collection sent its website crashing.

Missoni for Target

"Great news! Limited Missoni for Target items will be restocked by the end of the week!" the popular nationwide retailer said on its Twitter feed after the Internet stampede for the 400-piece line.

Several of them items -- all featuring the Italian knitwear brand's signature zigzag pattern -- were out of stock, from maxi dresses and sweater skirts to men's socks and ties, not to mention pencil cases and a bicycle.

Not a few pieces cropped up for resale on eBay by third parties.

Target's website (www.target.com) crashed on Tuesday shortly after Missoni for Target was unveiled both online and in stores. It was still faltering at times on Wednesday.

With much of the womenswear priced under $50, Missoni for Target appealed to fashion-conscious but thrifty shoppers eager to save money in hard economic times. Missoni dresses typically go for more than $1,000 at high-end stores.

"Our Missoni launch has created site traffic to rival Black Friday!" reported Target on Twitter overnight, alluding to the day after Thanksgiving, the traditional start in November of the Christmas shopping season -- one of the busiest sales days in the United States.