Comme des Garçons

The History of Comme des Garçons

Much more than a regular fashion label, Comme Des Garçons was born out of an idea of radicalism. Founded in 1969 by Rei Kawakubo in Tokyo, Comme Des Garçons came about in a time period that was absolutely defined by the luxurious European houses and conventional ideals of beauty. The  Commedesgarconsaustralia early collections called out for unevolved assumptions and did not bother the eye with strong lines of symmetry, polished glamour, or seasonism. The expression of the concepts developing wings in Kawakubo’s mind, treating clothing as a form of intellectual expression, opened doors to perceptions using fabric—the drive for emotion, identity, and the in-between of art and wearability. It will become the foundation for a brand that would perpetually keep redefining what fashion might be.

Rei Kawakubo’s Vision and Philosophy

At the heart of Comme Des Garçons lies Rei Kawakubo’s uncompromising, free-spirited creative philosophy.  Traditionally, she would describe her work as an exploration for “”newness”—a quest that avoids duplication and prevents adaptation to market demand. Instead of molding the body into a given shape, Kawakubo would much rather turn the body into an idea that provokes and inspires discussion. Most of the time, Comme Des Garçons collections end up timelessly shaped by an aesthetic ideal of odd shapes and flaws, as well as monochromatic colors, to leave the very definition of beauty open to reconsideration. The vision allowed all generations of designers across the globe to sustain their actual integrity, as well as to be challenged.

Comme Des Garçons and the Deconstruction Movement

It would soon become a household name in all corners of the world in the 1980s when it finally showcased its products in Paris. Mostly given to black and unevenness, these first incomplete edges are particularly disconcerting to both critics and audiences. Such designs played an important role in the popularization of deconstructionism in fashion, where garments are interpreted as torn apart, inside out, or imperfect by intention. In this same spirit, however, fashion has been conceptualised through the lens of Comme des Garçons, evolving and not a thing in itself. What was once radical eventually attained a point where its influence permeated the discourse of contemporary fashion.

Going Beyond the Traditional Runway

Eventually, Comme Des Garçons flourished indeed beyond the common fashion show. For instance, there exist several sub-labels developed by the brand, each of which defines itself while still having a root in the originally guiding philosophy. For example, Comme Des Garçons Homme would correspond to a different consumer profile than Comme Des Garçons Play or Comme Des Garçons Noir but keeps intact the avant-garde spirit of this company. Such a structure allows Comme Des Garçons to exist both as someone experimenting with fashion and as an internationally selling brand – with rare success from designers.

Collaborations and Cultural Influence

Comme des Garçons prides itself on being able to form partnership relationships between the luxury, streetwear, and popular cultural worlds. The collaborations with Nike, Converse, and Supreme have made a greater portion of the public aware of what Comme Des Garçons is really about, thus not diluting the creative core within it. These collaborations showed that hyper-conceptual fashion could fit with everyday wear. More than just clothes, it is about art, architecture, and retail design; this includes the much more unique concept of running a Dover Street Market, which has become functionally a curated cultural space, rather than some shops.

Retail Innovation and Dover Street Market 

Like its clothing, so does the retail approach of Comme Des Garçons mirror that same experimental mindset. Launched in London, Dover Street Market redefined the shopping experience through an integrated package of fashion and art installations along with constantly changing layouts. All stores feel like living exhibitions, whereby discovery takes precedence over consumption. 

Global Reach and Continuity 

Even if its origins are avant-garde experiments, it has gone far away in making it globally relevant, for the same reason that its unwillingness to follow up trends paradoxically makes it timeless. Designers, stylists, and fashion students will still refer to Comme des Garçons as very much in the tradition of having an idea center stage in their thinking and process. It still resonates today in the forms of contemporary runway presentations, conceptual streetwear, and increased acceptance of very unconventional beauty in fashion. 

The Interpretation of Comme Des Garçons in Contemporary Fashion 

At present, Comme Des Garçons is one of the major players in the industry. Behind the hype of quick trends, the label continues to churn out concept-driven collections that sacrifice commercial appeal at the front altar. Today, this describes the attraction of a new generation of customers eager to come to the Comme Des Garcons tent: while some appreciate it primarily for aesthetics, others appreciate it because of the philosophy of independence and originality that the brand emanates. This fashion built on ideas is lasting, going beyond seasons and markets.