The Swedish And The Japanese Unite: The Next Collaboration To Look Out For.

Fashion chain giants, H & M have welcomed their newest recruit Rei Kawakubo, for an inspired capsule collection to hit the shops world wide later this year. Born in Tokyo in 1942, Rei Kawakubo is notably the designer’s designer. Her company ‘Commes des Garcons’ was founded in 1973 and literally translates from French to mean ‘like the boys’. This philosophy is reflected in her garment construction and overall style of the label. Kawakubo’s elusive nature has perhaps, at times, benefited her garment technology ethos. A woman of few words and who rarely gives interviews has created a language through clothes by merely suggesting that the garments speak for themselves. But how will this translate to the high street? Her anti fashion approach to design and deconstructive manner have inspired and influenced the world over however, at a price. A shrewd businesswoman, the Japanese designer has blurred the lines of fashion and art culture through her clothes, shops and even her perfume. Her inspired ‘Red’ shop in Paris and more famously her London store, Dover Street Market have successfully transgressed the medium of fashion with art in order to enhance people’s shopping experience. So why would Kawakubo join forces with the Swedish fashion chain that has become synonymous with disposable trends? Two words, business sense. Kawakubo has always understood the importance between business and creation and this new collaboration with H & M will do just that. It will allow the average person to afford the unaffordable. But more importantly, what should we expect from the design? As a rule, Kawakubo challenges the preconceptions of what is deemed sexy by means of oversized androgynous silhouettes combined with serious colours, more commonly black and worn with flat genderless shoes. All this being said, it is set to be a fascinating collaboration. The collection will consist of a women’s and menswear collection alongside accessories and an exclusive unisex fragrance later in Autumn this year. A definite must see.