Target's website crashes under demand for Italian knitwear

NEW YORK (AP) - Sometimes, a fashion launch is just too enticing.

Target Inc.'s entire website crashed Tuesday, the day the cheap chic retailer launched the online sale of its limited offerings of Missoni for Target, a partnership with the Italian luxury knitwear designer.

The collection, which includes plates to clothes, is a fraction of the price of the real duds. Items include a dinnerwear set, priced at $31, featuring the trademark zig-zag patterns, $29.99 silk floral dresses and $12.99 bath towels.

Target, based in Minneapolis, posted on its Web site: "Woof! We are suddenly extremely popular. You may not be able to access our site momentarily due to unusually high traffic. Please stay here and we'll try to get you in as soon as we can!"

Target is known for creating a lot of buzz for its limited partnerships with designers and fashion brands, including the latest success with Liberty of London, which was launched in February 2010.

It couldn't be learned immediately when the site would be back up.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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