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    Creative Director CV: Rei Kawakubo

    From the 1960s to today, an overview of the Japanese designer’s remarkable career.

    Written By: Graeme Campbell Published On: February 2, 2024
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    Rei Kawakubo was born in 1942 in Tokyo, Japan, as the oldest of three siblings. She studied fine arts and literature at Keio University, later citing the experience as formative for its championing of Western culture and female empowerment. 

    She had no formal fashion training, but became a freelance stylist after working in the advertising department of textile factory Asahi Kasei. This began a lifelong obsession with clothing and design. She began making her own clothes when she was unable to find suitable pieces for clients. Eventually, she began using her earnings from styling work to fund the manufacture of sportswear items that she sold through boutiques.

    “I got a job by accident at a textile factory and worked as a stylist at this textile factory. I couldn't find the thing that I wanted to style so I started making my own,” she told Dezeen Magazine in 2019. “But I always wanted to use fashion as a tool, as a material to make a business out of creation.”

    Kawakubo founded Comme des Garçons in 1969. Its first boutique opened in Tokyo in 1973. In 1981, Kawakubo presented her first collection in Paris, heading to the French capital along with fellow Japanese designers Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake. Despite her success, she has remained notoriously press-shy throughout her career, granting few interviews and often providing roundabout answers.

    01
    Comme des Garçons Homme Plus x Air Max 97 'Glacier Grey'
    Comme des Garçons Homme Plus x Air Max 97 'Glacier Grey'
    02
    Louis Vuitton x Comme des Garçons Empreinte Bag 'Black Monogram'
    Louis Vuitton x Comme des Garçons Empreinte Bag 'Black Monogram'
    03
    Supreme x Comme des Garçons SHIRT Box Logo T-Shirt 'White'
    Supreme x Comme des Garçons SHIRT Box Logo T-Shirt 'White'
    04
    Supreme x Junya Watanabe x Comme des Garçons MAN Beanie 'Red Stripe'
    Supreme x Junya Watanabe x Comme des Garçons MAN Beanie 'Red Stripe'
    05
    Comme des Garçons Play x Chuck 70 High 'Black' 2015
    Comme des Garçons Play x Chuck 70 High 'Black' 2015
    06
    Comme des Garçons x OG Authentic LX 'CDG Print - Blanc De Blanc'
    Comme des Garçons x OG Authentic LX 'CDG Print - Blanc De Blanc'
    07
    Nike x Comme des Garçons PLAY T-Shirt 'White'
    Nike x Comme des Garçons PLAY T-Shirt 'White'
    08
    Comme des Garçons x Bapesta Low 'Black Camo'
    Comme des Garçons x Bapesta Low 'Black Camo'

    Who has Rei Kawakubo worked with?


    Comme des Garçons is the platform for Rei Kawakubo’s fashion output. In addition to fashion labels like Louis Vuitton, Moncler and Supreme, Comme des Garçons has worked with prominent brands outside the sphere of fashion, like the Star Wars movie franchise. 

    How to pronounce Rei Kawakubo ?


    Rei Kawakubo is pronounced “Ray Kah-wah-kuh-bow.”

    Where did Rei Kawakubo go to school?


    Rei Kawakubo went to school at Keio University.

    How did Rei Kawakubo get into fashion?


    Rei Kawakubo got into fashion while working as a stylist. She honed her craft by creating pieces she could not find elsewhere.

    Where did Rei Kawakubo work? 


    Rei Kawakubo worked in the advertising department of textile factory Asahi Kasei before going on to work as a freelance stylist.

    What is Rei Kawakubo famous for? 


    Rei Kawakubo is famous for her often challenging and avant-garde fashion designs. She has altered the trajectory of fashion through her work at Comme des Garçons.

    What shoes did Rei Kawakubo design? 

    Where to buy designs from Rei Kawakubo?

    You can buy designs by Rei Kawakubo and Comme des Garçons on GOAT.

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