Beginning in 1984, Rei Kawakubo used Comme des Garçons Homme Plus to create the purest form of men’s clothing. Through Homme Plus, Kawakubo would create abstract garments that became embodiments of art.
Following this ethos, Rei Kawakubo tapped the shoulder of the Japanese contemporary artist Shimoda Masakatsu to assist her in her Fall/Winter 2018 collection release. Masakatsu, known for large sculptural pieces and vibrant sketches, brought out his famous reptilian headpieces for Rei’s runway.
Constructed of blank canvases stuffed with cotton, each mask takes about 2-3 weeks to complete from its embryotic stage as a 2D image on a piece of paper. Paired with Rei’s collection, the runway served as an ode to youth culture and the rigidity of having to grow up in a power-hungry world.