The entire of Marc Jacobs' spring/summer 2012 collection has been stolen while being transferred from Paris to London.

The line disappeared on a train en route to London, where it was due to be showcased for Marc Jacobs' European press day.

The designer's PR team announced the shocking news in an email circulated to the press yesterday (16 November).

"The Marc Jacobs PR team is sorry to inform you that our press day tomorrow in the Marc Jacobs store is cancelled, due to the theft of the spring/summer 2012 collections during its transfer from Paris," the memo read.

The collection included 46 looks, previously on show at New York Fashion Week (above, photos 1-2). It drew inspiration from a Southern dance hall theme with key details including drop-waist skirts and cellophane cocktail dress designs.

There is no information yet on how the theft was orchestrated or who may be responsible. Fashion insiders speculated that the pieces will be used by counterfeiters seeking to sell second-hand fakes.

This is not the first time thieves have targeted high-profile designers. In 2009, 75 Victoria Beckham dresses worth half a million dollars were stolen on transit in New York and in 2007, Christopher Kane's full spring/summer collection was stolen from his studios in London's East End.