Latest news with #CommeDesGarcons
CNA
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
The future is lustrous: Mikimoto Japan's boss on how the pearl specialist is winning over a new generation
Pearl jewellery was once associated with a particular group of older, prim-and-proper women – the type to 'clutch their pearls' at anything scandalous to show their disapproval. But these days, it's seeing a revival among younger, fashion-forward jewellery wearers. At the forefront of this evolution is Japanese maison Mikimoto. In fact, Mikimoto is so deeply synonymous with the lustrous gem that it has become the benchmark for excellence in cultured pearls. While the brand's origins date back to 1893 when Kokichi Mikimoto created the world's first cultured pearl, in remains the foremost pearl specialist to this day. Yet even with such a storied legacy, the maison is not resting on tradition. While a pearl necklace is as classic as they come, in recent years, Mikimoto embraced modernity – exploring bold designs and contemporary collaborations for fresh expressions of pearl jewellery that speak to a new generation of wearers. In 2020, Mikimoto announced a collaboration with avant-garde fashion brand Comme des Garcons (CDG). The partnership married two seemingly opposite worlds – CDG as an unconventional fashion house known for its boundary-pushing designs and Mikimoto with its legacy of timeless, classic craftsmanship. Then in 2024, Mikimoto launched yet another unexpected collaboration, this time with Hollywood luxury label Chrome Hearts, resulting in a collection of pearl novelties with a distinct rock-and-roll edge. 'The collaborations with Chrome Hearts and Comme des Garcons were strategic initiatives designed to generate brand buzz, attract new customer segments and infuse a fresh, unconventional perspective into Mikimoto's heritage,' said Yasuhiko Hashimoto, executive vice president of Mikimoto Japan. Among Mikimoto's latest highlights is the Bow Charm collection, which brings a modern, elegant twist to the ribbon motif, crafted in glistening pearls, diamonds and gemstones. The bow motif is translated into a collection of high jewellery titled The Bows, where the ribbon transforms into statement pieces, including cascading lace-like necklaces, coloured gemstone-encrusted bows and multifunctional jewels. Pieces in the collection have been worn by both male and female celebrities, such as Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, Chinese actor and model Song Weilong and Thai actor James Jirayu. 'The DNA of Mikimoto lies in its rich heritage as the pioneer of cultured pearls, a steadfast commitment to exceptional craftsmanship, and an enduring ability to evolve while staying true to its origins,' Hashimoto noted on the lasting appeal of the brand. 'Its success over the decades is defined by consistently delivering the highest quality pearls, reimagining designs to resonate with modern tastes, as seen in the Bow Charm collection, and embracing bold collaborations with brands such as Chrome Hearts and Comme des Garcons.' Hashimoto shares more on Mikimoto's evolving audience, jewellery buying trends and how the brand is balancing heritage with innovation to stay relevant in today's global luxury market. Could you share more on the demographics of the typical Mikimoto customer and how it is changing? Mikimoto's customer base is evolving beyond its traditional association with elegant, sophisticated women to include a younger demographic and a wider range of clientele including both men and women interested in pearl and coloured stone jewellery. Today's customers are seeking more personalised, versatile pieces, with a growing interest in unisex designs that reflect modern lifestyles. This shift highlights a trend towards self-purchasing and collecting, rather than purchasing solely for special occasions. How important is the Singapore market for Mikimoto? What are some buying trends you've noticed for this market? Singapore remains a highly strategic market for Mikimoto, with exciting developments on the horizon. We continue to see a refined appreciation for pearl jewellery that carries a personal narrative, reflecting a broader shift toward self-expression and modern elegance. Buyers are moving beyond convention, favouring versatile pieces that seamlessly transition from day to evening. Mikimoto specialises in cultured pearls. Are there any challenges with this? As a specialist in cultured pearls, Mikimoto holds itself to exceptionally high standards, and maintaining that level of consistency is both a responsibility and a point of pride. At the same time, evolving consumer preferences present exciting opportunities to expand creative expressions, blending Mikimoto's unparalleled expertise in pearls with a growing interest in coloured gemstones and contemporary designs. It's less a challenge and more a continuous journey of innovation while staying true to the brand's heritage. What are some of the most popular Mikimoto collections? Which are the more popular collections in Singapore? Launched this year, the Bow Charm collection has quickly become one of our signature lines and is already on its way to becoming iconic. Alongside this, the M Signature collection continues to resonate strongly with clients. In Singapore, while timeless classics remain popular, there's a clear preference for designs that feel personal and versatile, jewellery that effortlessly balances elegance with individual expression. How have collaborations with CDG and Chrome Hearts performed and how have they opened new avenues for the brand? While we're unable to share specific figures, these collaborations have undeniably helped us broaden our reach by introducing cultured pearls to a younger, more fashion-forward audience, while reinforcing our relevance in the global luxury space. The collection with Chrome Hearts, in particular, has seen extraordinary demand, so much so that it's become incredibly difficult to purchase, with limited quantities produced and pieces selling out almost immediately. These collections also included unisex designs. Do you see a growing audience for pearls amongst male jewellery lovers? Yes, unisex designs are an integral part of Mikimoto's strategy, reflecting the rising appeal of genderless jewellery. We've also observed a notable increase in male customers visiting our boutiques, which speaks to the growing appreciation for pearls among modern men. What is Mikimoto's approach to high jewellery and how does this shine through in The Bows? Mikimoto's high jewellery approach is deeply rooted in craftsmanship and creative expression, which will be highlighted at the upcoming launch of our high jewellery collection during Paris Couture Week in July. The bow motif, a beloved motif all over the world, has seen a resurgence in popularity and is perfectly captured in The Bows high jewellery collection, which has resonated tremendously with clients and reaffirmed Mikimoto's position at the forefront of luxury jewellery design. What are some other jewellery buying trends you've noticed? We're seeing a growing number of registered customers seeking coloured stones alongside pearls, reflecting a desire for more distinctive and expressive designs. This is particularly evident in Asia, where customers are adding personal touches to their pearl jewellery. In response, we've introduced carefully selected coloured stones into our high jewellery collections to meet this evolving demand. What markets or regions are you most focused on for future growth, and why? Asia remains a key focus for future growth, with Singapore at the forefront. In addition to our flagship at Marina Bay Sands, we're currently exploring the possibility of opening a second boutique to expand our presence in the market.
ABC News
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ABC News
National Gallery of Victoria to host Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo exhibition for summer
The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) are hoping their just-announced summer exhibition will live up to the success of last summer's Yayoi Kusama, which this year became the most visited art exhibition in Australian history. Westwood | Kawakubo, which opens in December, will showcase the innovative work of two of the most celebrated names in fashion: the late British designer Vivienne Westwood (1941-2022), and Japanese designer and Comme des Garçons founder Rei Kawakubo (born 1942). "We can only try to exceed those numbers, right?" NGV's curator of fashion and textiles, Dani Whitfield, says with a laugh. "What you're hoping for with these exhibitions is that people that maybe don't know these designers come along and learn something and walk away feeling inspired." Westwood | Kawakubo features more than 140 designs by Westwood and Kawakubo, including more than 100 from the NGV's own collection, as well as works from the Metropolitan Museum in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and Palais Galliera in Paris. They'll be accompanied by archival material, photography, film and runway footage. Through five themes — Punk and Provocation; Rupture; Reinvention; The Body: Freedom and Restraint; and The Power of Clothes — the exhibition charts Westwood and Kawakubo's careers: from Westwood's early work in London's punk scene, dressing the likes of the Sex Pistols and Siouxsie Sioux; to the latter work of Kawakubo, whose designs inspired the theme for the 2017 Met Gala. "We look at two designers who were born in a similar historical moment in different places, but who had this incredible desire to change fashion and to work within the system, but also critique it," Whitfield says. Both Westwood and Kawakubo shaped and reshaped the rules of women's fashion in the late 20th century. With her then-partner, Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, Westwood — who was also a teacher — opened the shop Let It Rock (later renamed SEX) in London in 1971. Their collaboration shaped the style of 70s punk rock; think tartan, ripped T-shirts and safety pins. "When you think about Westwood's origins in punk, it's really redefining the look of fashion," Whitfield explains. "Fashion can be distressed; it can be ragged; it doesn't have to be beautiful. "It changes the way that we think about gender ideals and what conventional femininity is supposed to look like. Through that challenge, [Westwood] creates [clothing] that feels empowering for the wearer." In the 80s, Westwood subverted expectations, drawing on 18th- and 19th-century women's fashion, including corsetry, bustles and crinolines (stiff, structured petticoats). For example, she was inspired by Stravinsky's ballet Petrushka to create a "mini-crini", combining the restrictiveness of the crinoline with the so-called "liberation" of the miniskirt, popularised by designer Mary Quant in the 60s. "She brings [those garments] to the outer layer and turns them into these empowering items of clothing, which were about celebrating female sexuality," Whitfield says. Meanwhile, Kawakubo, who founded Comme des Garçons in 1969, crafted clothes that were the "complete antithesis" of those seen on Paris runways at the time, which veered towards spectacle and the male gaze. "She really came to fashion with this idea of wiping the slate clean, producing collections that were black and asymmetrical and distressed," Whitfield says. Kawakubo herself has said that she designed her clothes for "self-sufficient" working women; "women who do not need to assure their happiness by looking sexy to men, by emphasising their figures, but who attract them with their minds". "Her clothing was shapeless and androgynous … It was a much more conceptual way of dressing, which was about taking ownership," Whitfield says. Westwood | Kawakubo even features designs from Comme des Garçons's upcoming collection — giving the exhibition a sense of the full scope of Kawukobo's career. "Closer to the present day, the more and more avant-garde she becomes," Whitfield says. "She's somebody who just continues to really push and push." By pairing the two designers, NGV is emphasising their similar concerns — about beauty, taste, the ideal body, and the function and form of clothing. "Fashion should be empowering, fashion should be challenging, it should ask questions," Whitfield says. "[Westwood and Kawakubo's clothing] comes from a place of thinking really deeply about what fashion can mean. "It's not simply just the look of it, but how fashion is used to express an identity … I think everybody's always using fashion to speak about themselves." Westwood | Kawakubo is the third NGV summer blockbuster in the past five years to focus on fashion, following Gabrielle Chanel: Fashion Manifesto in 2021; and Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse in 2022. But it's not the first time a major Australian gallery has turned its focus on Westwood and Kawakubo — following NGV's own Collecting Comme in 2019, and a Westwood retrospective at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra in 2004. Whitfield says bringing fashion into a gallery context doesn't change the meaning behind the clothes — but instead offers an opportunity to put the designs into a historical and cultural context. "It's about drawing people's attention to the importance of those [cultural] shifts [and] of those designs," Whitfield says. "[It's about] showing not just how [the clothing] looked, but how they were made and how they were constructed, and the innovations [behind them] — aesthetic or material or technical." Designers like Westwood and Kawakubo belong in the gallery because, like all artists, they offer different ways of seeing the world. "There's no one way of doing anything," Whitfield says. "[Westwood and Kawakubo] played with form and function, they've turned [clothing] inside out, they've exaggerated, they've parodied, and they've questioned, and I think that's really appealing. "It is in that kind of spirit that we should all be dressing every day, don't you think?" Westwood | Kawakubo is at NGV International from December 7-April 19.
Associated Press
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Rei Kawakubo redefines men's suits with radical designs at Paris Fashion Week
PARIS (AP) — Rei Kawakubo, the ever-restless force behind Comme des Garçons, delivered a characteristically unpredictable twist on men's tailoring, dismantling the traditional suit and remaking it in her own radical image. Titled 'Not Suits, But Suits,' the Paris Fashion Week show had models striding through a packed, overheated concrete venue Friday evening in looks that both nodded to and defied the idea of formalwear. Classic suit elements, jackets, lapels, pressed trousers, were reimagined with sharp, architectural interventions: bulging hips, layered or panniered silhouettes, and unexpected splashes of color. Some jackets appeared as if spliced apart and reassembled, while skinny pants revealed hidden panels and bursts of pattern through carefully placed zippers. Layering abounded, with cropped jackets stacked over pleated shirting, kilts and shorts. Knitwear was shredded and reconstructed, echoing a sense of disorder within the tailored frame. Accessories pushed the eccentricity further — models wore oversized, multi-brimmed caps crafted from suiting fabrics, paired with long braided wigs and formal shoes. The collection evoked the need for something transformative in unsettled times. Its atmosphere only heightened the collection's message: in Kawakubo's world, the suit is not a uniform of conformity but a canvas for disruption. As guests spilled out into the night, applause rang out for a designer who continues to turn fashion's certainties inside out.
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Jennifer Lopez is hard to miss wearing bright tracksuit for jaunt in Los Angeles
turned heads wearing a bright-blue tracksuit as she headed to a studio in Los Angeles, California. The performer, 55, flashed her midriff in the bold ensemble which featured a cropped jacket and matching side-stripe wide-leg pants. She completed her look with Nike x Comme des Garcons platform sneakers and a designer leather slouchy purse.
