Junya Watanabe

Summary

Japanese fashion designer Junya Watanabe, undertook apprenticeship at Comme des Garçons as a pattern-maker. In 1987, he was promoted to chief designer of Tricot knitwear line and then moved on to design for Comme Des Garçons Homme. Circa 1992, he began worked under his own name as part of Comme des Garçons.

History

Born and raised in Fukushima, Japan, Junya Watanabe attended Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, graduating in 1984. Shortly, he undertook apprenticeship at Comme des Garçons as a pattern-maker, and was soon promoted to chief designer of Tricot knitwear line and then began designing for Comme Des Garçons Homme.

In 1992 Rei Kawakubo offered him a priceless opportunity to design his own collection under the Comme des Garçons umbrella and he showed his first womenswear collection at the concourse of Tokyo’s Ryogoku Station. Titled “Function and Practicality”, it showcased reversible pieces with the runway models stopping mid-runway to undress and invert the garments, with a simulated rain cloud overhead proving the collection to be waterproof. Genius!

The Japanese fashion designer experiments with cutting-edge fabrics and inventive tailoring and draping. His design aesthetic involves exploring a single motif each season, deconstructing and then reconstructing a single central concept. Watanabe began showing womenswear in Paris in 1992 and debuted a men’s line in 2001. During Fall Winter 2000-01, he introduced his ‘Techno-culture’ collection, a mélange of artisanal shapes and creative, experimental fabrics.

In 2007 Watanabe was licensed by Converse to produce limited edition Converse Chuck Taylors. Priced at around $84, the shoes were available at high-end global retailers including Barney’s, Colletee and Comme des Garcons, Dover Street Market. Other collaborations include Levi’s, Hervier Productions, Seil Marschall, Carhartt, Nike, Merz b. Schwanen, The North Face, ArkAir etc. In 2012, Watanabe designed the remote-control toy car The Hornet for the Tamiya Corporation and released a coordinated pair of Reebok Pump.

In March 2016 Watanabe created solar-powered men’s outerwear. In 2020 he launched a capsule collection with Brooks Brothers. He also worked with Comme des Garçons and the video game designer Yoko Taro to develop a cosplay collection. Today, he continues to work for Comme des Garcons and his atelier is located on the second floor of the Comme des Garçons headquarters in Aoyama, Tokyo.

Vision

To create something very different from other designers. A protege of Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, Japanese fashion designer Junya Watanabe envisioned experimenting with cutting-edge fabrics and creative tailoring and draping. He explores a single motif each season, deconstructing and then reconstructing a single central concept.

Mission Statement

‘monozukuri’

Products and Services

Womenswear, menswear, accessories

Recognition and Awards

Junya Watanabe is a Japanese fashion designer recognised for his advanced approach to design and avant-garde design aesthetic. He is the protégé of Comme des Garçons founder, Rei Kawakubo.

References

• Official Website Junya Watanabe
• Junya Watanabe Vogue
• Facebook page of Junya Watanabe Facebook
• Converse X Junya Watanabe Man Hypebeast
• Spring 2024 Vogue
• Spring 2024 men’s Vogue
• Fall 2023 Vogue
• Fall 2023 men’s Vogue
• Spring 2023 Vogue
• Instagram page of Junya Watanabe Instagram
• Brooks Brothers and Junya Watanabe Team Up Robb Report
• Wikipedia page of Junya Watanabe Wikipedia
• When Junya Watanabe Designed a Remote-Control Car GQ
• Junya Watanabe, One of Fashion’s Foremost Thinkers NY Times
• Junya Watanabe High Snobiety
• Ensemble Met Museum
• Junya Watanabe Pulled A Rachel Dolezal At PFW Bustle
• Kanye West Premieres New Album Donda Pitchfork
• Exploring the Boundaries Between Fashion and Cosplay SSense