COMME DES GARÇONS

"Comme des Garçons has always traveled at its own pace and will continue to do so."
Rei Kawakubo, 2010


REI KAWAKUBO

Comme Des Garcons is a famous fashion line designed by Rei Kawakubo who is also its sole owner. She was born on October 11^th 1942 in Tokyo, Japan. What makes her an original designer is the fact that she received no training, instead studying fine arts a

nd literature at Keio University. After her graduation, she worked in a textile company and in 1967 she started to be a freelance stylist. She officially started her company in 1973 called “Comme des Garcons Co. Ltd” and opened her first store in 1975. Although it was at first a woman’s line, in 1978 she designed clothes for men and three years later, she attained real fame by presenting her fashion lines in Paris Fashion Week each season. Her first Parisian boutique opened in 1982.

Comme des Garcons is known for its “anti-fashion, austere, and deconstructed” garments. Meaning, that it is anti-conformist, the clothes are usual very dark with a splash of color, and the garments are usually frayed, with sharp edges and asymmetrical shapes.

Another aspect that makes Rei Kawakubo special as a designer is that she likes to be involved in all the aspects of her company, from graphic design to choosing shop interiors.

Aoyama, Tokyo store is known for its glass façade deco

rated with blue dots, designed by Takao Kawasaki. In the early 1990s, she started publishing her bi-annual magazine “Six”, which is mostly made up of photos that she thinks are inspiring. She is very media shy, and she is known for saying that she prefers her creations to speak for themselves.

Comme des Garçons is a Japanese fashion label headed by Rei Kawakubo, who is also its sole owner.

Comme des Garçons has a dozen boutiques and approximately 200 vendors around the world, with flagship stores in Aoyama, Tokyo's high fashion district, as well as Place Vendôme in Paris.

The company increases $150 million per year.

The label was started in Tokyo by Rei Kawakubo in 1969 and established as a company in Japan in 1973. Comme des Garçons became successful in Japan in the 1970s; a men's line was added in 1978. The year 1981 saw Comme des Garçons's debut show in Paris.

Comme des Garçons collections are designed in the Comme des Garçons studio in Aoyama and are made in Japan, France, Spain and Turkey.

Comme des Garçons have collaborated with various other labels over the years including Fred Perry, Levi’s, Converse All Star, Speedo, Nike, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton. Comme des Garçons and H&M collaborated on a collection which was released in the fall of 2008.

Björk notably wears Comme des Garçons on her video Isovel. Other celebetries have worn Comme des Garçons clothing.

THE H&M LINE

(The Polka Dot Scarf)

Value

The Polka Dot Scarf was a limited edition that could only be bought in 13 H&M stores in the entire world. It cost 24,99 $ (17 euros) but its price has gone down with time and now it can be found for 20,00 $

LINKS


H&M line Ad
Comme des Garçon and H&M


VIDEO

BLACK COMME DES GARÇONS

PLAY COMME DES GARÇONS

TAO COMME DES GARÇONS

JUNYA WATANABE MAN COMME DES GARÇONS

''In terms of creation, I have never thought of suiting any system or abiding by any rules, either a long time ago or right now. In this respect I have remained free.''

Rei Kawakubo, 2010