Comme des Garçons began in Tokyo, Japan, in the year 1969 by Rei Kawakubo.
She was not trained in fashion but studied art and literature at Keio University.
Her first work involved designing for magazines, but she soon followed her creative dream.
In 1973, she officially founded the brand and started showing designs that felt very different.
The name “Comme des Garçons” means “like the boys” in French, showing gender-free style.
At first, her clothes were mostly black and not shaped to fit the female body.
This fresh approach made people notice her work, even if they didn’t always understand it.
Slowly, the brand grew stronger by challenging fashion rules that others were afraid to touch.

Rei Kawakubo’s Bold Vision

Rei Kawakubo always wanted to change the way people looked at clothes and beauty.
She believed fashion was not just about trends but about expressing deeper human feelings.
Her designs often looked strange, with uneven shapes, torn fabric, and rough cuts.
Many people called her designs ugly at first, but others saw something truly new.
She believed beauty should not be perfect but should include flaws and different viewpoints.
Kawakubo never explained her ideas much, letting the clothes speak for themselves on runways.
Her shows became places of surprise, where no one knew what to expect each season.
She created a world where fashion became art and personal expression, not just clothing to wear.

Challenging Traditional Fashion Norms

Comme des Garçons changed many ideas about what clothing should be and how it should look.
Kawakubo did not follow rules about colors, shapes, or how clothes should fit the body.
She often used black when others used color, and her shapes ignored the usual body outline.
Some clothes had added lumps or extra layers, which made the body look unfamiliar or strange.
Instead of making people look attractive, her clothes made people think and feel something deeper.
This kind of “anti-fashion” shocked the industry but slowly became respected around the world.
People began to understand her designs as questions, asking what beauty and fashion really mean.
She proved that fashion could be more than just pretty dresses—it could challenge the mind.

From Tokyo to Global Fame

The brand’s first major international success came in 1981 at Paris Fashion Week.
The audience was surprised by the dark colors, unusual shapes, and bold presentation style, https://commedesgarconsstore.com/ 
Some critics called the designs confusing, but others were inspired by their fresh honesty.
This show marked the beginning of Comme des Garçons as a major voice in global fashion.
The brand quickly gained fans in Europe, America, and other parts of Asia.
Stores opened in key cities like Paris, New York, London, and Hong Kong.
Kawakubo continued to stay true to her vision, even as her fame continued to grow.
She proved that different ideas could find global success without changing to fit trends.

Building a Fashion Empire

Comme des Garçons is not just one fashion line—it is a group of creative projects.
The brand now includes different lines, such as Comme des Garçons Homme and CDG Play.
CDG Play became very popular for its heart logo and more casual clothing pieces.
The brand also makes perfumes, wallets, and shoes, often with unusual shapes and scents.
Kawakubo also launched Dover Street Market, a store that mixes fashion, art, and design.
The store gives space to many designers who share her spirit of creativity and risk-taking.
She also supports other designers like Junya Watanabe and Kei Ninomiya, who work under CDG.
Together, they help the brand continue to grow while keeping its original purpose and power.

Collaborations and Public Reach

Although Kawakubo works in high fashion, she has never ignored the power of popular culture.
Comme des Garçons has done many surprising collaborations with sports and streetwear brands.
Their work with Converse and Nike brought the CDG vision to sneakers worn worldwide.
Other collaborations include Supreme, Louis Vuitton, and even Japanese toy and art designers.
These projects brought more people to the brand while still keeping its original creative edge.
Kawakubo always adds something unexpected, even in collaborations with big commercial brands.
She makes sure that her ideas stay clear and true, no matter the partner involved.
This balance between high art and pop culture has helped the brand stay modern and fresh.

Lasting Influence on Fashion

Today, Comme des Garçons is one of the most respected names in the fashion industry.
Designers around the world say Kawakubo gave them courage to try new and strange ideas.
She proved that you do not need to follow rules to be successful or well-known.
Her work has been shown in museums, including a major show at New York’s MET Museum.
She remains one of the few designers to earn this level of art-world recognition.
Fashion students study her collections to learn how to take risks and break tradition.
Even after more than 50 years, her influence continues to shape future generations of designers.
Comme des Garçons will always stand as a symbol of creativity, bravery, and fashion without limits.