Unable to travel to Paris due to travel restrictions, Comme des Garçons will show all its collections in Tokyo, until the pandemic is over. Last night saw Rei Kawakubo unveil her Homme Plus AW21 collection, made in collaboration celebrated American artist Willie Cole.
Kawakubo was particularly drawn to the New Jersey-based artist’s mask sculptures, made entirely out of high heels. “I am constantly looking for strong images and I suddenly had the idea to ask Willie if he would consider making headpieces instead of face masks,” says the designer, as the pair came together to adorn the heads of each model in elegant clusters of black pumps. Cole’s original sculptures also cropped up in the collection, via an all-over print that coated elongated shirts, padded blazers and traditional Changshan jackets.
Kawakubo wanted to use this season as a testament that even in this bleak moment in time, creativity can still arise. Whether it be Renaissance-style, houndstooth trousers that very well could be tights – worn with logo-stamped sports socks and kitten heels – or a disruptive take on the classic Chanel tweed jacket. “It is in this world sunk in darkness that we must search and find something new,” said Kawakubo in a statement. And through Homme Plus, newness we shall seek.
Photography courtesy of Comme des Garçons.
