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Rei Kawakubo

Founder, Comme des Garçons

Fashion’s most celebrated contrarian has attracted a global cult following for her spirited belief in unadulterated creation.

Rei Kawakubo
Fashion Week

Top 10 Menswear Shows for Spring/Summer 2018

In a season dominated by graphic logos and sportswear-inflected collections, these designers stood out in an increasingly homogenised crowd.

Fashion Week

Top 10 Menswear Shows for Spring/Summer 2018

In a season dominated by graphic logos and sportswear-inflected collections, these designers stood out in an increasingly homogenised crowd.


Fashion Week

Fierce Optimism at Comme Des Garçons Homme Plus

Glitter cascaded over Comme signatures, a charming antidote to the otherwise-frostiness of this season’s runways.

Fashion Week

Fierce Optimism at Comme Des Garçons Homme Plus

Glitter cascaded over Comme signatures, a charming antidote to the otherwise-frostiness of this season’s runways.


News & Analysis

Tomes of the Times: Summer Reading 2017

Colin McDowell shares his essential summer fashion reading list, featuring books on Rei Kawakubo, Irving Penn, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent’s Dior years and more.

News & Analysis

Tomes of the Times: Summer Reading 2017

Colin McDowell shares his essential summer fashion reading list, featuring books on Rei Kawakubo, Irving Penn, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent’s Dior years and more.


Fashion Week

Branded Sensationalism at Off-White

What saves Virgil Abloh from sounding pretentious is the freshness with which he embraces the accelerated sampling and mash-up of his Millennial-friendly branding.

Fashion Week

Branded Sensationalism at Off-White

What saves Virgil Abloh from sounding pretentious is the freshness with which he embraces the accelerated sampling and mash-up of his Millennial-friendly branding.


Technology

Why Is Google Digitising the World's Fashion Archives?

For years, Google has been digitising the world’s museums, making cultural artefacts accessible in extraordinary detail to millions of internet users. Now it’s turning to fashion.

Technology

Why Is Google Digitising the World's Fashion Archives?

For years, Google has been digitising the world’s museums, making cultural artefacts accessible in extraordinary detail to millions of internet users. Now it’s turning to fashion.


Luxury

The Hidden Links Between Cristóbal Balenciaga and Demna Gvasalia

On the surface Cristóbal Balenciaga and Demna Gvasalia couldn’t be more different. But the connections between the enigmatic couturier and his buzzy heir run deep.

Luxury

The Hidden Links Between Cristóbal Balenciaga and Demna Gvasalia

On the surface Cristóbal Balenciaga and Demna Gvasalia couldn’t be more different. But the connections between the enigmatic couturier and his buzzy heir run deep.


News & Analysis

Rei Kawakubo's Hair Magician

Best known for his dramatic hair sculptures for Comme des Garçons, Julien d'Ys was the first to purposefully make hair look dirty, using potions of grease, vodka, clay or powder.

News & Analysis

Rei Kawakubo's Hair Magician

Best known for his dramatic hair sculptures for Comme des Garçons, Julien d'Ys was the first to purposefully make hair look dirty, using potions of grease, vodka, clay or powder.


Technology

Why Are Goop and Airbnb Teaming Up with Condé Nast and Hearst?

In the last week, two very different digital brands have announced partnerships with traditional media giants that will land them on newsstands with printed magazines. Why?

Technology

Why Are Goop and Airbnb Teaming Up with Condé Nast and Hearst?

In the last week, two very different digital brands have announced partnerships with traditional media giants that will land them on newsstands with printed magazines. Why?


News & Analysis

Fashion World Pays Tribute to Rei Kawakubo at the Met Gala

An exhibition honouring the Comme des Garçons designer inspired a more adventurous red carpet, underscoring her exceptional ability to fuel commerce with art.

News & Analysis

Fashion World Pays Tribute to Rei Kawakubo at the Met Gala

An exhibition honouring the Comme des Garçons designer inspired a more adventurous red carpet, underscoring her exceptional ability to fuel commerce with art.


Workplace & Talent

Japan Wants More Fashion Designers from Abroad

As Japan’s population ages and shrinks, the government hopes to alleviate the labour shortage by recruiting more foreign specialists. But are there more obstacles than opportunities?

Workplace & Talent

Japan Wants More Fashion Designers from Abroad

As Japan’s population ages and shrinks, the government hopes to alleviate the labour shortage by recruiting more foreign specialists. But are there more obstacles than opportunities?


What is The BoF 500?

The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.

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