Rei Kawakubo Anti-Young Designers, Anti-Fast Fashion, Only Shops In Airports

WWD recently caught up with Comme de Garçon's Rei Kawakubo, who had some harsh words for new designers and about fast fashion. Burn. When asked if there were any young designers she is watching, Kawakubo said:

There are very few. There are few people who, like us, have the values and the way of thinking to really try hard. They lack discipline. And it's not just fashion, I think...[young people] get satisfied too easily. They're not strict enough with themselves. They're too soft on themselves.

On the topic of fast fashion, Kawakubo told the newspaper it's not so good for "the value of creation," although she did once collaborate with H&M:

That was a special case. They were making a new store in Japan, so it was just a short, two-week relationship. It wasn't a big thing, but I thought it was interesting because they asked me to do all the advertising and visuals as well. H&M has a very different way of thinking and a different business model, so it was interesting to see how much of a connection we could make. But in the end I realized that there wasn't very much in common, so I don't think I'll do it again.

So where does Kawakubo shop?

At airports, because I don't have time to shop. I buy my cosmetics at the airport and there's nothing else much I buy. I just don't have time.

Minimalist. We dig it.

Comments

[KT-S]

12:43 PM on 01/05/2011

She only shops in airports? I'm almost with her on this. Eating in airport restaurants is usually a miserable experience, and I find serious reading hard with all those flight announcements blasting away.

[AmericanLeslie]

11:17 PM on 01/04/2011

I've been to many airports in the world and have yet to see one shop that sells clown attire.

[Robert Galyean]

03:47 AM on 01/05/2011

Or John Wayne Gacy face paint.

[Behind the Tweed Curtain]

08:06 AM on 01/06/2011

I've dealt with many clowns in airports, but none in traditional clown attire.

[caseyblab]

05:44 PM on 01/04/2011

Upset because everyone else is also shopping "fast" like her.

The photo for this piece would look right at home on The Man Repeller blog- it's hilarious.

[DandaPanda]

04:30 PM on 01/04/2011

anti fashion fashionista..how banal

[garystartswithg]

08:01 PM on 01/05/2011

the old guard wanting to quash the next generation. nothing new. Alexander Wang's stuff at Bloomingdales is as current as ready to wear can get, and it won't fall apart like H&M. Of course she is bitter.

[blitznstitch]

03:52 PM on 01/04/2011

designer for the stylish CLOWNS...ugly clothes - how do these people make money?

[thegoodspeed]

03:11 AM on 01/05/2011

sunglasses, bags & shoes.

[Robert Galyean]

03:51 AM on 01/05/2011

Don't forget fragrances. Comme Des Garcons currently has 71, 2, and 2Man on the market. Also, Dior and Chanel make money not only off of fragrances, but off of cosmetics and skincare lines as well.

[gene-garcon]

02:44 PM on 01/04/2011

I admire her vision, her philosophy on creation. She is one of the remaining true avant-gardists who shy away from the limelight, allowing for the collections to speak themselves. It isn't about creating a 'pretty' dress or trendy jacket, it's about focusing on the nature of strict true form.

[caseyblab]

05:46 PM on 01/04/2011

And you find that at an airport shop?

[QuatreTsien]

11:49 AM on 01/05/2011

The proverb of the Shoemaker's Children, and such..

Ms. Kawakubo is a brilliant talent.

[jeana21]

02:20 PM on 01/04/2011

I saw the spring 2011 fashion show and I thought how dreadful. 5% of the clothes were fabulous the other half...I promised I would be nice in 2011 so I won't comment.