Comme des Garçons
Encyclopedia
Comme des Garçons, written コム・デ・ギャルソン (Komu de Gyaruson) in Japanese
and French for "Like Boys," is a Japan
ese fashion label headed by Rei Kawakubo
, who owns the company with her husband Adrian Joffe.
Comme des Garçons is based in Tokyo
and in the prestigious Place Vendôme
in Paris
, the city in which they show their main collections during Paris Fashion Week and Paris Men's Fashion Week. Each year, the company grosses in the region of $180 million.
Their Japanese flagship store is in Aoyama
, Tokyo
's high fashion district, they also have concept stores Trading Museum Comme des Garçons and 10 Corso Como Comme des Garçons in Tokyo
and stores in Kyoto
, Osaka
and Fukuoka
. Worldwide the have traditional Comme des Garçons stores in Rue du Faubourg St-Honoré in Paris
, W22nd Street in New York
as well as stores in Hong Kong
, Beijing
, Bangkok
, Seoul
and Singapore
.
Since 2004 Comme des Garçons have developed a market based department store concept, stocking their main collections, their other brands, such as Shirt and Play and a wide range of international designers, their original market store called Dover Street Market is in Mayfair
in London
. In 2010 they opened I.T Beijing Market Comme des Garçons which will be followed by a new market store in Ginza, Tokyo
in 2011.
by Rei Kawakubo
in 1969 and established as a company in Japan in 1973. Comme des Garçons became successful in Japan in the 1970s; a men's line was added in 1978. The year 1981 saw Comme des Garçons's debut show in Paris. It created a splash for its predominant use of black and distressed fabrics. Throughout the 1980s, Comme des Garçons's clothes often had the destroyed look.
After the Paris debut, Comme des Garçons exhibited photographs by Peter Lindbergh
at the Centre Georges Pompidou
in Paris in 1986 consisting of . The year 2005 saw an exhibition in Shinjuku
, Tokyo of Comme Des Garçons advertising and graphic designs.
Comme des Garçons collections are designed in the Comme des Garçons studio in Aoyama, Tokyo
and are made in Japan, France, Spain and Turkey.
The 1997 spring/summer collection, often referred to the 'lumps and bumps' collection, which contained fabric in bulk and balls on the garments. This led to a collaboration, also in 1997, between Rei Kawakubo
and New York-based choreographer Merce Cunningham
called 'Scenario'.
The 2006 autumn/winter collection dealt with the concept of the 'persona', the different ways we present ourselves to the world. Fusing tailored menswear with more feminine elements such as corsets and flower printed dress fabrics, 'Persona' was another collection that combined the feminine with the masculine by Comme des Garçons.
Junya Watanabe
and, as of recently, Tao Kurihara have started their own sub-labels under the Comme des Garçons name to much acclaim. Both were also involved in designing for the casual women's knitwear line 'Comme des Garçons Tricot'.
Comme des Garçons have collaborated with various other labels over the years including Fred Perry, Levi's Converse All Star, Speedo
, Nike
, Moncler
, Lacoste, Cutler and Gross, Chrome Hearts
, Hammerthor, S. N. S. Herning, Louis Vuitton
and many others. Comme des Garçons and H&M
collaborated on a collection which was released in the fall of 2008.
Björk
notably wears Comme des Garçons on her video Isobel
. Other celebrities who have worn Comme des Garçons include Matt Bellamy, Alexander McQueen
, Chloe Sevigny
, Kanye West
, Usher
, Tilda Swinton
, Herb Ritts
, Tatiana Sorokko
, Karl Lagerfeld
, Mary-Kate Olsen
, Vincent Ng, Selma Blair
, Leila Aldik, Aubrey Graham (Drake), Joe Jonas
and John Waters
, who devoted a chapter of his 2010 book Role Models to Comme des Garçons and Rei Kawakubo.
, most of which are unconventional in the world of perfume, in the same spirit as the label's garments. They released their first fragrance 'Comme Des Garçons' in 1994. 1998 saw the release of Comme des Garçons's first "'anti-perfume' Odeur 53", a blending 53 non-traditional notes to create a modern and striking scent. Some of these notes being: oxygen, flash of metal, washing drying in the wind, mineral carbon, sand dunes, nail polish, cellulose, pure air of the high mountains, burnt rubber and flaming rock.
Comme des Garçons released the perfume for the Luxe series "Champaca", for which artist Katerina Jebb
produced the visual.
(Dover Street Market
), Paris
, New York City
, Beijing
, Hong Kong
, Seoul
, St. Petersburg, Tokyo
(2x), Kyoto
, Osaka
, Fukuoka
. The company also maintains concessions at select department stores, such as Isetan
. In Paris
, a Comme des Garçons perfumery can be found at 23 Place Marché St-Honoré.
Comme des Garçons opened the first of their 'Guerrilla' stores in 2004 in Berlin
. The Guerrilla stores' aim is to be open for only one year and to spend a minimal amount of money on the interiors. The stores are also to be located away from fashionable hubs and districts of a city. Comme des Garçons Guerrilla stores have been opened (and subsequently closed) in Reykjavik, Warsaw, Helsinki, Singapore, Stockholm and Athens, amongst others. In July 2007, a Guerrilla Store opened in the Achrafieh district of Beirut, Lebanon, and in February 2008, a Guerrilla Store opened in downtown Los Angeles, the first in the United States.
In November 2008, they opened another Guerilla store in the west end of Glasgow
.
2004 saw the opening in London
of Dover Street Market
(DSM), a multilevel store conceptualised by Rei Kawakubo
. As well as selling Comme Des Garçons lines, other designers are personally invited and "accorded 'creative spaces'" by Kawakubo to open a section of the store and design it in any way they wish while often selling limited edition pieces made only for DSM.
In December 2009, Comme des Garçons opened a 4400 square feet (408.8 m²) store in Hong Kong
called Under The Ground. Hong Kong also has had a Guerrilla store opened and closed in previous years, run by Silly Thing Hong Kong.
In August 2010, Comme des Garçons opened a 19000 square feet (1,765.2 m²), six-level flagship store in Seoul
, South Korea
. In addition to merchandise, the store features a branded art-exhibition space, the company's first outside Japan.
In January 2011, Club 21 opened a 3035 square feet (282 m²) Comme des Garçons store in Singapore. Singapore also previously had Guerrilla stores; and in October 2010, a Pocket store was opened.
In First Quarter of 2012 the first Comme des Garçons store in The Philippines will open it will be located in Rockwell Center.
:
designed by Junya Watanabe
:
designed by Tao Kurihara:
accessories:
others:
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
and French for "Like Boys," is a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese fashion label headed by Rei Kawakubo
Rei Kawakubo
is a Japanese fashion designer, founder of Comme des Garçons.She is untrained as a fashion designer, but studied fine arts and literature at Keio University. After graduation, Kawakubo worked in a textile company and began working as a freelance stylist in 1967....
, who owns the company with her husband Adrian Joffe.
Comme des Garçons is based in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and in the prestigious Place Vendôme
Place Vendôme
Place Vendôme is a square in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France, located to the north of the Tuileries Gardens and east of the Église de la Madeleine. It is the starting point of the Rue de la Paix. Its regular architecture by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and pedimented screens canted across the...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, the city in which they show their main collections during Paris Fashion Week and Paris Men's Fashion Week. Each year, the company grosses in the region of $180 million.
Their Japanese flagship store is in Aoyama
Aoyama, Tokyo
is a neighborhood of Tokyo, located in the northeastern Minato Ward. During the Edo Period, Aoyama was home to various temples, shrines, and samurai residences. The name Aoyama derived from a samurai named Aoyama Tadanari who served the Tokugawa Shogunate and held his mansion in this area...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
's high fashion district, they also have concept stores Trading Museum Comme des Garçons and 10 Corso Como Comme des Garçons in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
and stores in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
and Fukuoka
Fukuoka
Fukuoka most often refers to the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture.It can also refer to:-Locations:* Fukuoka, Gifu, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan* Fukuoka, Toyama, a town in Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
. Worldwide the have traditional Comme des Garçons stores in Rue du Faubourg St-Honoré in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, W22nd Street in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
as well as stores in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Since 2004 Comme des Garçons have developed a market based department store concept, stocking their main collections, their other brands, such as Shirt and Play and a wide range of international designers, their original market store called Dover Street Market is in Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In 2010 they opened I.T Beijing Market Comme des Garçons which will be followed by a new market store in Ginza, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in 2011.
History
The label was started in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
by Rei Kawakubo
Rei Kawakubo
is a Japanese fashion designer, founder of Comme des Garçons.She is untrained as a fashion designer, but studied fine arts and literature at Keio University. After graduation, Kawakubo worked in a textile company and began working as a freelance stylist in 1967....
in 1969 and established as a company in Japan in 1973. Comme des Garçons became successful in Japan in the 1970s; a men's line was added in 1978. The year 1981 saw Comme des Garçons's debut show in Paris. It created a splash for its predominant use of black and distressed fabrics. Throughout the 1980s, Comme des Garçons's clothes often had the destroyed look.
After the Paris debut, Comme des Garçons exhibited photographs by Peter Lindbergh
Peter Lindbergh
Peter Lindbergh, born Peter Brodbeck, is a German photographer and filmmaker, born on November 23, 1944 in Leszno, Poland. He currently lives in Paris, New York and Arles....
at the Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou
Centre Georges Pompidou is a complex in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais...
in Paris in 1986 consisting of . The year 2005 saw an exhibition in Shinjuku
Shinjuku, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative center, housing the busiest train station in the world and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration center for the government of Tokyo.As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population...
, Tokyo of Comme Des Garçons advertising and graphic designs.
Fashion
Aoyama, Tokyo
is a neighborhood of Tokyo, located in the northeastern Minato Ward. During the Edo Period, Aoyama was home to various temples, shrines, and samurai residences. The name Aoyama derived from a samurai named Aoyama Tadanari who served the Tokugawa Shogunate and held his mansion in this area...
and are made in Japan, France, Spain and Turkey.
The 1997 spring/summer collection, often referred to the 'lumps and bumps' collection, which contained fabric in bulk and balls on the garments. This led to a collaboration, also in 1997, between Rei Kawakubo
Rei Kawakubo
is a Japanese fashion designer, founder of Comme des Garçons.She is untrained as a fashion designer, but studied fine arts and literature at Keio University. After graduation, Kawakubo worked in a textile company and began working as a freelance stylist in 1967....
and New York-based choreographer Merce Cunningham
Merce Cunningham
Mercier "Merce" Philip Cunningham was an American dancer and choreographer who was at the forefront of the American avant-garde for more than 50 years. Throughout much of his life, Cunningham was considered one of the greatest creative forces in American dance...
called 'Scenario'.
The 2006 autumn/winter collection dealt with the concept of the 'persona', the different ways we present ourselves to the world. Fusing tailored menswear with more feminine elements such as corsets and flower printed dress fabrics, 'Persona' was another collection that combined the feminine with the masculine by Comme des Garçons.
Junya Watanabe
Junya Watanabe
Junya Watanabe is a Japanese fashion designer, originally the protege of Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo. Born in Fukushima, Japan in 1961, he went on to attend Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, graduating in 1984. At this time he began his apprenticeship at Comme des Garçons as a patternmaker...
and, as of recently, Tao Kurihara have started their own sub-labels under the Comme des Garçons name to much acclaim. Both were also involved in designing for the casual women's knitwear line 'Comme des Garçons Tricot'.
Comme des Garçons have collaborated with various other labels over the years including Fred Perry, Levi's Converse All Star, Speedo
Speedo
Speedo International Ltd. is a manufacturer and distributor of swimwear and swim-related accessories. Founded in Australia in 1914, the industry leading company is now a subsidiary of Pentland Group Plc. Today, the Speedo brand can be found on products ranging from swimsuits and goggles to wrist...
, Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, Moncler
Moncler
Moncler, is a clothing company of French origin founded in 1952 by French entrepreneur René Ramillon that manufactures high-end down jackets and sportswear.The company took is name from the abbreviation of Monestier-de-Clermont, an Alpine town near Grenoble...
, Lacoste, Cutler and Gross, Chrome Hearts
Chrome Hearts
Chrome Hearts is an American luxury brand, founded in 1988 by motorcycle enthusiast Richard Stark, that specializes in high-end silver jewelry, leather clothing and furniture with gothic rock motifs. It is known for its luxury items which feature fleur-de-lys, dagger and floral cross designs...
, Hammerthor, S. N. S. Herning, Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
and many others. Comme des Garçons and H&M
H&M
H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
collaborated on a collection which was released in the fall of 2008.
Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
notably wears Comme des Garçons on her video Isobel
Isobel
"Isobel" is a song by Icelandic singer Björk. It was released as the second single from her 1995 album Post. The lyrics describe a primitive girl who seems to be a personification of Mother Nature, and who tries to warn the technological world of its potential dangers. The music is underscored by...
. Other celebrities who have worn Comme des Garçons include Matt Bellamy, Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen
Lee Alexander McQueen, CBE was a British fashion designer and couturier best known for his in-depth knowledge of bespoke British tailoring, his tendency to juxtapose strength with fragility in his collections, as well as the emotional power and raw energy of his provocative fashion shows...
, Chloe Sevigny
Chloë Sevigny
Chloë Stevens Sevigny is an American film actress, fashion designer and former model. Sevigny gained reputation for her eclectic fashion sense and developed a broad career in the fashion industry in the mid 1990s, both for modeling and for her work at New York's Sassy magazine, which labeled her...
, Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
, Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
, Tilda Swinton
Tilda Swinton
Katherine Mathilda "Tilda" Swinton is a British actress known for both arthouse and mainstream films. She has appeared in a number of films including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Burn After Reading, The Beach, We Need to Talk About Kevin and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her...
, Herb Ritts
Herb Ritts
Herbert "Herb" Ritts was an American fashion photographer who concentrated on black-and-white photography and portraits, often in the style of classical Greek sculpture.-Early life and career:...
, Tatiana Sorokko
Tatiana Sorokko
Tatiana Sorokko is a Russian-born American model, fashion journalist and haute couture collector. She walked the runways for the world's most prominent designers and fashion houses, appeared on covers of leading fashion magazines, and became the first Russian model of the post-Soviet period to gain...
, Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld is a German fashion designer, artist and photographer based in Paris. He has collaborated on a variety of fashion and art related projects, most notably as head designer and creative director for the fashion house Chanel...
, Mary-Kate Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen
Mary-Kate Olsen is an American actress, producer, author and fashion designer. She made her career debut in 1987 alongside her twin sister Ashley Olsen in the television series Full House...
, Vincent Ng, Selma Blair
Selma Blair
Selma Blair is an American actress who has worked in film, theatre and television. She has performed in feature films including Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde, The Sweetest Thing, Hellboy, The Fog, Purple Violets and Hellboy II: The Golden Army...
, Leila Aldik, Aubrey Graham (Drake), Joe Jonas
Joe Jonas
Joseph Adam "Joe" Jonas is a Pop American singer, musician, actor, and dancer. He is a member of the Jonas Brothers, a pop-rock band made up of him and his two brothers, Nick and Kevin...
and John Waters
John Waters (filmmaker)
John Samuel Waters, Jr. is an American filmmaker, actor, stand-up comedian, writer, journalist, visual artist, and art collector, who rose to fame in the early 1970s for his transgressive cult films...
, who devoted a chapter of his 2010 book Role Models to Comme des Garçons and Rei Kawakubo.
Perfume
Comme des Garçons also produces a line of unisex fragrancesPerfume
Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and/or aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces "a pleasant scent"...
, most of which are unconventional in the world of perfume, in the same spirit as the label's garments. They released their first fragrance 'Comme Des Garçons' in 1994. 1998 saw the release of Comme des Garçons's first "'anti-perfume' Odeur 53", a blending 53 non-traditional notes to create a modern and striking scent. Some of these notes being: oxygen, flash of metal, washing drying in the wind, mineral carbon, sand dunes, nail polish, cellulose, pure air of the high mountains, burnt rubber and flaming rock.
Comme des Garçons released the perfume for the Luxe series "Champaca", for which artist Katerina Jebb
Katerina Jebb
Katerina Jebb is a British-born artist and photographer based in Paris. In 1984, she moved to California to study photography. In 1989, she moved to Paris where she continues to work and live.-Images and techniques:...
produced the visual.
Stores
Signature Comme des Garçons boutiques are located in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(Dover Street Market
Dover Street Market
Dover Street Market is a multilevel fashion retail store created by Rei Kawakubo of Japanese fashion label Comme des Garçons. It is located in Dover Street Mayfair, London.Dover Street Market Tokyo opened in 2006 and is a smaller version of the London store....
), Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, St. Petersburg, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
(2x), Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, Fukuoka
Fukuoka, Fukuoka
is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
. The company also maintains concessions at select department stores, such as Isetan
Isetan
is a Japanese department store. Based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Isetan has branches throughout Japan and East Asia, including Bangkok, Jinan, Kaohsiung, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Singapore and Tianjin and formerly in Hong Kong, London and Vienna....
. In Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, a Comme des Garçons perfumery can be found at 23 Place Marché St-Honoré.
Comme des Garçons opened the first of their 'Guerrilla' stores in 2004 in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. The Guerrilla stores' aim is to be open for only one year and to spend a minimal amount of money on the interiors. The stores are also to be located away from fashionable hubs and districts of a city. Comme des Garçons Guerrilla stores have been opened (and subsequently closed) in Reykjavik, Warsaw, Helsinki, Singapore, Stockholm and Athens, amongst others. In July 2007, a Guerrilla Store opened in the Achrafieh district of Beirut, Lebanon, and in February 2008, a Guerrilla Store opened in downtown Los Angeles, the first in the United States.
In November 2008, they opened another Guerilla store in the west end of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
2004 saw the opening in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
of Dover Street Market
Dover Street Market
Dover Street Market is a multilevel fashion retail store created by Rei Kawakubo of Japanese fashion label Comme des Garçons. It is located in Dover Street Mayfair, London.Dover Street Market Tokyo opened in 2006 and is a smaller version of the London store....
(DSM), a multilevel store conceptualised by Rei Kawakubo
Rei Kawakubo
is a Japanese fashion designer, founder of Comme des Garçons.She is untrained as a fashion designer, but studied fine arts and literature at Keio University. After graduation, Kawakubo worked in a textile company and began working as a freelance stylist in 1967....
. As well as selling Comme Des Garçons lines, other designers are personally invited and "accorded 'creative spaces'" by Kawakubo to open a section of the store and design it in any way they wish while often selling limited edition pieces made only for DSM.
In December 2009, Comme des Garçons opened a 4400 square feet (408.8 m²) store in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
called Under The Ground. Hong Kong also has had a Guerrilla store opened and closed in previous years, run by Silly Thing Hong Kong.
In August 2010, Comme des Garçons opened a 19000 square feet (1,765.2 m²), six-level flagship store in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. In addition to merchandise, the store features a branded art-exhibition space, the company's first outside Japan.
In January 2011, Club 21 opened a 3035 square feet (282 m²) Comme des Garçons store in Singapore. Singapore also previously had Guerrilla stores; and in October 2010, a Pocket store was opened.
In First Quarter of 2012 the first Comme des Garçons store in The Philippines will open it will be located in Rockwell Center.
Comme Des Garçons lines
designed by Rei KawakuboRei Kawakubo
is a Japanese fashion designer, founder of Comme des Garçons.She is untrained as a fashion designer, but studied fine arts and literature at Keio University. After graduation, Kawakubo worked in a textile company and began working as a freelance stylist in 1967....
:
- Comme des Garçons – main women's line (since 1973)
- Comme des Garçons Noir – black-dominated women's collection (since 1987)
- Comme des Garçons Comme Des Garçons – (aka 'Comme Comme') womenswear (since 1993)
- Comme des Garçons Homme Plus – main men's line (since 1984)
- Comme des Garçons Homme Plus Sport – sporty subline of Homme Plus
- Comme des Garçons Homme Plus Evergreen – subline of Homme Plus, re-invented items from past collections (since 2005)
- Comme des Garçons Homme Deux – formal tailored menswear (since 1987)
- Comme des Garçons SHIRT – shirt-dominated collection (since 1988)
- Play Comme des Garçons – younger men's and women's casual streetwear with bug-eyed heart logo (collaboration with New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
graphic artist Filip Pagowski ) - Black Comme des Garçons – temporary women's and men's low-priced diffusion line, sold in signature BLACK pop-up shops
designed by Junya Watanabe
Junya Watanabe
Junya Watanabe is a Japanese fashion designer, originally the protege of Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo. Born in Fukushima, Japan in 1961, he went on to attend Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, graduating in 1984. At this time he began his apprenticeship at Comme des Garçons as a patternmaker...
:
- Comme des Garçons Homme – men's Japanese line (since 1978)
- Comme des Garçons Robe de Chambre – women Japanese line (discontinued)
- Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons – womenswear (since 1992)
- Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons Man – menswear (since 2001)
- Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons Man Pink – menswear items for women (discontinued)
designed by Tao Kurihara:
- Tao Comme des Garçons – womenswear (launched 2005, discontinued after spring 2011)
- Tricot Comme des Garçons – women's knitwear
accessories:
- Comme des Garçons Edited – special items for Edited shops in Japan
- Comme des Garçons Pearl – jewellery (since 2006)
- Comme des Garçons Parfum – (since 1994)
- Comme des Garçons Parfum Parfum
- Comme des Garçons Wallet
- Speedo Comme des Garçons – swimwear collaboration (since 2005)
- Hammerthor Comme des Garçons Shirt – underwear collaboration (since 2007)
others:
- Ganryu Comme des Garçons – unisex street style label designed by Fumito Ganryu, a former patternmaker at Junya
- Comme des Garçons Peggy Moffitt
- Comme des Garçons Six – bi-annual magazine (from 1988 to 1991)
- design collaborations with mainstream brands. – eg. Levi's, Lacoste, Fred PerryFred PerryFrederick John Perry was a championship-winning English tennis and table tennis player who won 10 Majors including eight Grand Slams and two Pro Slams. Perry won three consecutive Wimbledon Championships between 1934 and 1936 and was World No. 1 four years in a row...
, The North FaceThe North FaceThe North Face, Inc. is an American outdoor product company specializing in outerwear, fleece, shirts, footwear, and equipment such as backpacks, tents, and sleeping bags....
, Nike, Inc.Nike, Inc.Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
, MonocleMonocleA monocle is a type of corrective lens used to correct or enhance the vision in only one eye. It consists of a circular lens, generally with a wire ring around the circumference that can be attached to a string. The other end of the string is then connected to the wearer's clothing to avoid losing...
, H&MH&MH & M Hennes & Mauritz AB is a Swedish retail-clothing company, known for its fast-fashion clothing offerings for women, men, teenagers and children....
, Undercover, Visvim, Chrome Hearts, 10.Corso.Como, Kaws, Louis VuittonLouis VuittonLouis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...
, etc.
External links
- Dover Street Market - Comme des Garçons London store official web site
- Comme des Garçons Company official web site
- Comme des Garçons Parfums official web site
- Comme des Garçons Saint Petersburg Store un-official blog. Lots of high-quality pictures.
- Comme des Garçons women's F/W 2008 collection
- Comme des Garçons Homme Plus men's F/W 2008 collection
- Comme des Garçons Homme Deux men's S/S 2008 collection
- Junya Watanabe women's F/W 2008 collection
- Junya Watanabe Man men's F/W 2008 collection
- Tao F/W 2008 collection by Tao Kurihara
- Comme des Garçons fragrances at Basenotes
- Filip Pagowski home page
- NUMBER 3 is the former COMME des GARÇONS Guerrilla Store +30210 Athens