Comme Des Garçons (comb-dey gah-sown) is a Tokyo-based label created by Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo and co-owned by her husband, Adrian Joffe.
For over four decades, Rei has continuously pushed the envelope by defying accepted standards of beauty with out-of-the-box concepts the label is famously (or sometimes infamously) known for. In the ‘80s, its dark and shapeless garments countered commonly favored vivid, tight-fitting clothes by the likes of Claude Montana and Gianni Versace. Hers was the anti-sex. She tell’s Vogue in 1995, “Comme Des Garçons is a gift to oneself, not something to appeal or attract the opposite sex.”
Though receiving much backlash as looks were referred to as “rag picker,” a cult following still developed and quickly spread. Many see Rei’s contribution as equally relevant to those of Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent.
Taking a breather from the bags we normally delve into, we turn the spotlight on Comme Des Garçons and its PLAY line for this installment of our Designer Label Index. Read on as we dig into the wide-eyed heart that has slowly gained the public’s love and affection.
Hey, Preview readers! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tiktok, and Twitter to stay up to speed on all things trendy and creative. We’ll curate the most stylish feed for you!
