Kawakubo

Kawakubo is a Japanese surname. The most prominent bearer is Rei Kawakubo, born in 1942 in Tokyo, a fashion designer and founder of the label Comme des Garçons. Her work is widely regarded as influential in shaping contemporary fashion through concept-driven design and an anti-fashion stance.

Rei Kawakubo launched Comme des Garçons in Tokyo in 1969, initially as a boutique before expanding into clothing lines. The brand gained international attention in the 1980s with Paris presentations that emphasized asymmetry, deconstruction, and a monochrome palette. Kawakubo’s designs frequently challenge conventional silhouettes, volumes, and materials, using layering, cutting, and fabric manipulation to create sculptural forms.

Beyond clothing, the Comme des Garçons group includes a range of brands and collaborations under its umbrella, spanning accessories, fragrances, and sub-labels. Kawakubo has worked with artists and other designers to blur the boundaries between fashion, art, and retail, influencing both runway practice and retail concepts. Her approach has influenced fashion theory and practice, encouraging designers to rethink form, identity, and audience.

Kawakubo is known for privacy and limited public appearances, yet her work has sustained a lasting impact on global fashion. She remains a central reference point for discussions of avant-garde design, material experimentation, and the role of fashion as a conceptual art form.