Comme des Garçons: When Fashion Becomes a Ritual

Avant-garde, deconstruction, provocation—these three words perfectly capture the world of Comme des Garçons and its visionary leader, Rei Kawakubo. The brand’s latest collection wasn’t just fashion; it was a spectacle, a ritual, an explosion of form and meaning.

For decades, Rei Kawakubo has challenged the boundaries of fashion, proving that clothing can be more than just garments—it can be sculpture, concept, and emotion. This collection showcased overlapping shapes, organic structures, and textures that seemed to grow from the body itself. As Vogue Runway aptly described, this wasn’t merely a fashion show; it was a ritual.

The designs featured layered constructions, distorted silhouettes, and sculptural protrusions. As always with Comme des Garçons, nothing was predictable. Classic forms—pencil skirts, coats, tailored suits—were deconstructed, reshaped, and reimagined into something entirely new. Bulbous shapes, draping, and explosive ruffles gave the impression of surreal, wearable sculptures that transcend functionality and become pure artistic expression.

In a fashion industry increasingly driven by commercial trends, Rei Kawakubo remains steadfast in her artistic vision. She doesn’t follow trends—she creates them. Each collection is a manifesto of creative freedom, rejecting conventional norms and redefining what clothing can be. Comme des Garçons proves that fashion can be intellectual, emotional, and thought-provoking.

Is this still fashion? Or has it become pure art? Comme des Garçons doesn’t provide easy answers—and that’s exactly what makes it so extraordinary.

Photos courtesy of Insidore Montag/Gorunway.com