What the brand Comme des Garcons means to you, can mean something completely different to me; that is the beauty of the world that Rei Kawakubo has created. Japanese fashion is like poetry. No matter how old a piece of poetry is, the intimacy and the feelings evoked from the imagery is subjective to the reader, and lasts forever. This holds true to the way that different consumers and admirers interpret collections presented by designers such as Comme des Garcons, Yohji Yamamoto and Issey Miyake. Sometimes, a collection will fly over someone’s head. They assume that the collection is irrelevant, because they have yet to understand or experience the meaning behind the collection. For others, the collections presented may click with their psyche in a way that will changes their lives forever.
The world put proportions and aesthetic in a box. When designers such as Rei and Yohji appeared, they changed the way people looked at proportions. In the 80’s, they introduced new silhouettes that are still profound today. The well curated, vintage outfits presented years ago, at Shock Wave are historical looks that innovated the fashion world and continue to challenge the modern world.
To me, the looks presented that I admired were the ones that transformed and influenced menswear from the same designers. It showed me that womenswear and menswear can transcend beyond gender and when mixed, something beautiful is born. Yohji Yamamoto used menswear as his main influence for his womenswear(Femme) collections and created something so sensual and refined. There were noire inspired looks, punk inspired looks, menswear inspired looks, traditional Japanese silhouettes, womenswear and looks that could only come from the imagination of Rei, Yohji and Issey Miyake. These designers can take different influences from cultures all over the world and make it unique to their style of clothing, as if they were a part of that culture their entire lives. It is truly incredible what these designers have done for the fashion community. This exhibition pays homage to them, and thanks them for introducing designs that have transformed the way womenswear and menswear are tailored and worn.
I encourage everyone in Colorado to visit this exhibit. What you take away from the exhibit will differ from my experience, and the person next to you. Your perceptions can only come from the intimacy that Japanese fashion brings out individually.