Dec 30, 2012 rei kawakubo, the enigmatic head of innovative japanese fashion house comme des garcons, has a special vision which extends beyond clothing to furniture, architecture, and graphic design, always defying conventional thinking. Rei kawakubo and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. When it comes to fashion concept stores, the japanese designer at the head of comme des garcons, rei kawakubo, has a certain commercial magic touch that comes from a. Kawakubo joining that elite list suggests she might be the closest thing fashion has to a living saint. The book designers and exhibition photographer developed a system of. The book features interviews, descriptions and many pictures out of the work of one of the greatest visionaries of our time rei kawakubo.
Your personal details will not be shared with those companies we send the emails and you can unsubscribe at any time. Known to never repeat herself, her evolution from monochrome black and white avantgarde to contemporary experimental fashion powerhouse is one for the history books. The unsettling vision of rei kawakubo the new yorker. Rei kawakubo one of the most influential figures in contemporary fashion design receives critical attention in this volume published after the exhibition refusing fashion. Kawakubo debuted her first collection, lace at paris fashion week in 1981, a collection which led her fans to become known as crows due to their. Rei kawakubo, the enigmatic head of innovative japanese fashion house comme des garcons, has a special vision which extends beyond clothing to furniture rei kawakubo varia. Rei kawakubo story bio, facts, net worth, family, auto. Top quality, great selection and expert advice you can trust. I cant pinpoint the moment of discovery, but in a mainstream landscape of bronzed legs, big tits, and beachy waves, rei kawakubo and the various arms of her fashion house crept in like a slow revelation. Rei kawakubo of comme des garcons is an anomaly in fashions. Rei kawakubo at the museum of contemporary art in detroit, michigan.
This is perhaps the most basic introduction that one can say for kawakubo because beyond her profession and the business she has established, she is perhaps the worlds foremost innovator in the impenetrable realm of avantgarde fashion design. Minimal, monochromatic, and modernist, her approach to fashion design challenges conventional beauty without forgoing stylish cloth, cut, and color. When she showed on the runway in paris for the first time, with a collection titled destroy, the fashion press was lost trying to make sense of it. After three decades of being head designer at comme des garcons, kawakubo has proven herself time and time again that she is a driving force within the fashion industry. She is the founder of comme des garcons and dover street market. Rei kawakubo is the first living designer given a solo show at the mets costume institute since 1983. Rei kawakubo rei kawakubos work is both paradox and ideological imperative. To call rei kawakubo is a revolutionary would almost be an understatement. Refusing fashion rei kawakubo comme des garcons designer. Nov 24, 2008 rei kawakubo the iconic japanese designer and founder of comme des garcons says that she works in fashion and not art.
As there is nothing conventional about kawakubos approach to fashion. The japanese provocateur behind comme des garcons and dover street market has developed a cultlike following throughout the years, emerging as a. Rei kawakubos comme des garcons fashion shows are often the subject of a great deal of head scratching by many buyers and journalists, who may not understand the clothing or the message that is being communicated. Mar 30, 2016 the 10 craziest parts of that elle writers attack on the magazine in a long, weird essay for the observer titled elle on earth, a writer slams the womens magazine for ruining his rei. But, over the yearswith collections like that of the infamous bumps for 1997 to the black vinyl dymaxionlike collage dresses for springsummer 2009she has systematically reimagined the human form. May 04, 2017 garments by rei kawakubo from her body meets dress dress meets body collection from 1997 in her show at the metropolitan museum of art. Oct 25, 2019 please keep me up to date with special offers and news just by email from carefully selected companies. Without always understanding what i was looking at, i was gripped by the kind of melancholy that seems to accompany the toughest, most searching and demanding levels of beauty.
Reviewed by christina catherine martinez my fashion pedigree is wholly derived from childhood predilection for wrapping swaths of cloth and ribbon left over from my mothers sewing projects around my body in primitive, avantgardist arrangements. Museum of contemporary art detroitrei kawakubo1969. Judith thurman on rei kawakubo, the japanese avantgardist who changed womens fashion with her label, comme des garcons. Kawakubos conceptions stem from her background in fine arts and literature rather than from any formal design training. The text included gives so much insight to kawakubo. Minimal, monochromatic, and modernist, her approach to fashion design challenges conventional beauty. Garments by rei kawakubo from her body meets dress dress meets body collection from 1997 in her show at the metropolitan museum of art.
Placing great emphasis on an admiration for traditional japanese art as well as the forms and ideologies of modernism via channels of fiber technology, visual imagery, and threedimensional sculpture, issey miyake, rei kawakubo, and yohji yamamoto can be credited with the creation of the japanese aesthetic in global fashion. Nov 25, 2012 rei kawakubo, the enigmatic head of innovative japanese fashion house comme des garcons, has a special vision which extends beyond clothing to furniture, architecture, and graphic design, always defying conventional thinking. In recognition of the notable design contributions of kawakubo, an exhibition of her designs entitled rei kawakubocommes des garcons, art of the inbetween opened on 5. The mets rei kawakubo show, dressed for defiance the new. Filled with tons of fantastic installation photos of the exhibition and thoughtful essays about rei kawakubos remarkable designs, the catalog highlights kawakubos aweinspiring life and career in a way that truly captures her constant process of renewal.
They dismissed her unfinished seams and asymmetrical cuts as absurd. One of the most influential figures in contemporary fashion design receives critical attention in this volume published after the exhibition refusing fashion. Once kawakubos renunciation of the artists role might have been seen as. Theres a terrific essay by rei kawakubo, the high priestessfounder of comme des garcons, in the current issue of system magazine that casts doubt on a.
This lavishly illustrated publication, which is the companion book to the 2017 metropolitan museum costume institute show, seeks to explain kawakubos work something the reclusive designer has always refused to do. In addition to photographs of the exhibition, the book includes photos by timothy greenfieldsanders of kawakubos costume designs for merce cunningham. Jul 20, 2017 rei kawakubo is an architect of clothes. Rei kawakubo s work is both paradox and ideological imperative. Rei kawakubo born 1942 established comme des garcons in tokyo in 1973 and quickly consolidated her stature as one of the three major japanese designers alongside issey miyake and yohji yamamoto. The japanese designers comme des garcons collection was dismissed as post atomic and her devotees nicknamed crows, but her singular. Kawakubo shuns the spotlight, rarely coming out to take a bow at the end of her shows. Introduction marsha miro rei kawakubo and the art of fashion harold koda pas comme des architectes. So its a part of the essential paradox of comme des garcons that she has stuck so hard and fast to the rules of the fashion industry. Today, courtesy of system magazine, bof exclusively brings you a creative manifesto written by rei kawakubo of comme des garcons, one of the fashion industrys most revolutionary, but reticent designers. To the uninitiated, rei kawakubo is a japanese fashion designer, founder, and creative director of the fashion label comme des garcons. Once kawakubos renunciation of the artists role might.
When japanese designer rei kawakubo arrived in paris in 1981 to show her comme des garcons readytowear collection to the western press for the first time, critics branded her mannish coats, inky palette and distressed fabrics postatomic and hiroshima chic. The work and influence of issey miyake, yohji yamamoto and rei kawakubo. Bof exclusive rei kawakubos creative manifesto bof. Rei kawakubo repudiates the fashion inspiration myth. Rei kawakubo is an absolute musthave for any fan of rei kawakubo comme des garcons. Dec 05, 20 theres a terrific essay by rei kawakubo, the high priestessfounder of comme des garcons, in the current issue of system magazine that casts doubt on a piece of fashion conventional wisdom that. The fashion designer kei ninomiya discusses coming up at comme des garcons and his new project with moncler. Interviewing comme des garconss rei kawakubo in paris last month was the realization of a lifelong dream, the pinnacle of my. Please keep me up to date with special offers and news just by email from carefully selected companies. Rei kawakubo and commes des garcons by sudjic, deyan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The 10 craziest parts of that elle writers attack on the magazine in a long, weird essay for the observer titled elle on earth, a writer slams the womens magazine for ruining his rei. One of the most influential figures in contemporary fashion design receives.
For something to be beautiful it doesnt have to be pretty. The japanese born designer created a universe that gave comfort to the wearer and discomfort to the beholder. Sep 28, 2017 walking mesmerized through the rei kawakubo retrospective at the metropolitan museum was the closest ive come since to the feeling of noh theater. Rei kawakubo brought the statement back into fashion, at a time when the industry was saturated with the glamour and gloss of the 80s sexualised cuts, colour pop and power shoulders. Her clothing is not so much about the body as the space around the body and the metaphor of self. Walking mesmerized through the rei kawakubo retrospective at the metropolitan museum was the closest ive come since to the feeling of noh theater. Rei kawakubo, the enigmatic head of innovative japanese fashion house comme des garcons, has a special vision which extends beyond clothing to furniture, architecture, and graphic design, always defying conventional thinking. Rei kawakubo, the enigmatic head of innovative japanese fashion house comme des garcons, has a special vision which extends beyond clothing to furniture.
Rei kawakubocomme des garcons art of the inbetween. Rei kawakubo born 1942 established comme des gar ons in tokyo in 1973 and quickly consolidated her stature as one of the three major japanese designers alongside issey miyake and yohji yamamoto. Scan her career and the punk spirit of diy defiance crops up over and over again. Commenting backstage, the 71yearold japanese designer referred to the 23 looks as anything but clothes. Thanks heavens, then, for this celebration of the history and art of all her work to help fill in the gaps. Rei kawakubo fashion designer encyclopedia clothing. Mar 03, 2017 a first look at the mets major comme des garcons exhibition. Rei kawakubo, the nearly silent oracle of fashion the. How a rei kawakubo disciple is using allblack clothing to make something new.
Rei kawakubo at the museum of contemporary art in detroit. The original avantgarde fashion designer, rei kawakubo is the head of japanese atelier comme des garcons and has been bending and breaking the rules. While john waters was able to devote a whole chapter in his recent tome to the brilliance that is rei kawakubo, we get a little lost for words in her presence. Rei kawakubo has always challenged fashion norms such as fusing masculine and feminine motifs, introducing the distorted shapes and cuts in. Shop for adventure books at rei free shipping on all orders. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Rei kawakubos work is both paradox and ideological imperative. For a house thats gleefully operated on the margins of the fashion industry for 40 years, comme des garcons springsummer 2014 collection was unconventional even by rei kawakubos standards. Rei kawakubo of comme des garcons is widely recognised as among the most important and influential designers of the past 40 years. I would punctuate the look with bright pink plastic heels, the kind that came in a bliste. Refusing fashion harold koda, sylvia lavin, marsha miro, rei. Rei kawakubocomme des garcons art of the inbetween by andrew bolton, 9781588396204, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Text by harold koda, sylvia lavin, judith thurman, michael stonerichards.
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