Creation of new ideas is important since it takes things in a forward direction. If nothing original is produced, then progress is not possible. The equivalent to 'New' is 'Creation'.
- Rei Kawakubo
Birth :
Rei Kawakubo was born on 11 October, 1942 in Tokyo. She was the last of three children and only daughter. Her father was an administrator at Keio University. Rei was not formally trained in any of fashion designing courses. But she enrolled in her father's university in Arts and Aesthetics in the year 1960.
Fashion Career:
She graduated in the year 1964 and joined in advertising department of a textile company, Asahi Kasei. She was given a freehand to select costumes for photo shoot. Once, she was unable to find appropriate costumes for the photoshoot. So she took the responsibility and designed costumes herself. In 1967, she started freelancing.
In 1969, she started selling designs under her own label Comme des Garcons (CDG) meaning 'like boys'. She incorporated the company in 1973 and in that year she opened her first store. With in a span of less than 10 years, she opened 150 stores across Japan. Her revenue grew to $30 million. She did not like western idea of fashion (exposing body) instead she believed that true fashion lies in covering most of the women's body. Her designs were not meant to seduce or please men. She defines fashion as the independence of wearing whatever women like without the influence of men.
She fell in love with fellow designer Yohji Yamamoto. Both worked together and redefined fashion and Rei became a national fashion icon. Rei debuted her collections in Paris in 1981. She further expanded her company with three more lines, Homme, Tricot and Robe de Chambre. In 1982, she opened her first boutique in Paris. Most of Kawakubo's designs included black color. This is because she preferred the hue above others. Rei created Dover street market on Dover street in London.
Kawakubo won the Fashion Group International award in 1986. She also won Excellence of Design award from the Harvard university. She was a true inspiration for many young fashion designers to emerge in Japan as well as other parts of the world.
