This year marks 50 years of Comme des Garçons. For half a century the fashion world has had a benchmark for creativity and iconoclasm—not that the label’s founder Rei Kawakubo gives a damn about the fashion world, or, seemingly, any world that we mere mortals exist in, anyway. But then again, it makes sense that the visionary behind a label that has remained a vanguard in the industry for so long is somewhat off-beat in her approach to life, which is made abundantly clear if you read any of her instantly notorious interviews over the years.
To mark the occasion, we look back at some of Comme des Garçon’s iconic ads paired with iconic Rei Kawakubo quotes.
1986
“I do not feel happy when a collection is understood too well.”
1989
“I don’t like the word feminist. I don’t like the word ambitious. I do like the word anti-establishment.”
1993
“I want to be forgotten.”
1995
“I work in three shades of black.”
1998
“Every day I think I have a dry spell. Every day is a dry spell. It’s always hard.”
2010
“Feeling free inside oneself is being free.”
2010
“The more people that are afraid when they see new creation, the happier I am.”
2012
“Because the fundamental human problem is that people are afraid of change.”
Head Image Photography by Keizo Kitajima
