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    The Genre-Defying Magic of Rei Kawakubo’s Comme des Garçons

    How the Japanese brand took the spotlight from Europe and put Tokyo on the fashion map.

    WRITER: GREGK FOLEY
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    It wasn’t long ago the fashion world had three capital cities. Paris was the imperial city, followed by Milan and London. For the first half of the 20th century, high fashion was a decidedly Euro-centric affair. Then Comme des Garçons happened.

    Founded in 1969 by Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garçons is an avant-garde fashion label which, along with a handful of other designers such as Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake, established Tokyo as the new center for cutting-edge fashion design, particularly when Kawakubo and Yamamoto presented their collections on the global stage in Paris in 1981.

    In the decades that have passed since, Kawakubo and Commes des Garçons have risen to become a veritable fashion empire standing shoulder to shoulder with European heavyweights, producing a litany of sublines and diffusion labels, nurturing up-and-coming designers (many of whom have gone on to create successful labels of their own), and operating their own chain of department stores.

    The Comme universe mirrors the designs of the clothes themselves, a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of structured chaos. The label’s history is less a singular line than a network of roots, constantly branching off in new, unexpected directions. Without attempting to confine that story, here’s a brief history of Comme des Garçons.

    SHOP COMME DES GARÇONS STYLES

    01
    Comme des Garçons x Dunk High Retro 'Clear'
    Comme des Garcons x Dunk High Retro Clear
    02
    Supreme x Junya Watanabe x Comme des Garçons MAN Patchwork Cargo Pant 'Olive'
    Supreme x Junya Watanabe x Comme des Garcons MAN Patchwork Cargo Pant Olive
    03
    Comme des Garçons SHIRT x KAWS Classic Printed Shirt Print A 'White'
    Comme des Garcons SHIRT x KAWS Classic Printed Shirt Print A White
    04
    Comme des Garçons Digital Print Reconstructed Coat 'Multicolor'
    Comme des Garcons Digital Print Reconstructed Coat Multicolor
    05
    Supreme x Junya Watanabe x Comme des Garçons MAN Zip Up Hooded Sweatshirt 'Dusty Blue'
    Supreme x Junya Watanabe x Comme des Garcons MAN Zip Up Hooded Sweatshirt Dusty Blue
    06
    Comme des Garçons Homme Plus Faux Leather Jacket 'Silver'
    Comme des Garcons Homme Plus Faux Leather Jacket Silver
    07
    Comme des Garçons Classic Zip Pouch 'Black'
    Comme des Garcons Classic Zip Pouch Black
    08
    Comme des Garçons Homme Plus Smooth Garment Foil Print Pants 'Black/Silver'
    Comme des Garcons Homme Plus Smooth Garment Foil Print Pants BlackSilver
    09
    Comme des Garçons Cropped Shirt 'Black'
    Comme des Garcons Cropped Shirt Black
    10
    Comme des Garçons Homme Plus Stitch Detail Jacket 'Black'
    Comme des Garcons Homme Plus Stitch Detail Jacket Black
    11
    Comme des Garçons Homme Plus x Air Foamposite One 'Black'
    Comme des Garcons Homme Plus x Air Foamposite One Black
    12
    Comme des Garçons Homme Plus x Air Foamposite One 'White'
    Comme des Garcons Homme Plus x Air Foamposite One White
    13
    Comme des Garçons Homme Plus One Side Plaid Layered Jacket 'Black/Natural'
    Comme des Garcons Homme Plus One Side Plaid Layered Jacket BlackNatural
    14
    Comme Des Garçons SHIRT x Gel Lyte 3 'Colorful Camo'
    Comme Des Garcons SHIRT x Gel Lyte 3 Colorful Camo
    15
    Comme des Garçons x Air Jordan 1 Retro Strap High 'White'
    Comme des Garcons x Air Jordan 1 Retro Strap High White
    16
    Supreme x Comme des Garçons SHIRT x Air Force 1 Low 'Eyes'
    Supreme x Comme des Garcons SHIRT x Air Force 1 Low Eyes
    17
    Comme Des Garçons Play Sweatshirt Big Heart 'Black'
    Comme Des Garcons Play Sweatshirt Big Heart Black
    18
    Supreme x Junya Watanabe x Comme des Garçons MAN Beanie 'Red Stripe'
    Supreme x Junya Watanabe x Comme des Garcons MAN Beanie Red Stripe
    19
    Supreme x Junya Watanabe x Comme des Garçons MAN Printed Work Pant 'Black'
    Supreme x Junya Watanabe x Comme des Garcons MAN Printed Work Pant Black
    20
    Comme des Garçons Ruffle Bottom T-Shirt 'White'
    Comme des Garcons Ruffle Bottom T Shirt White
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