Converse x Comme des Garçons, when America meets Japan
Comme des Garçons, a Japanese label against the grain
Founded by the audacious stylist Rei Kawabuko, the label Comme des Garçons (コム-デ-ギャルソン, Komu of Gyaruson in Japanese) was born in Tokyo in 1969.
Far from the beauty canons worn by the haute-couture houses of the 60s and 70s, Comme des Garçons breaks the codes. Going against the grain, Rei Kawabuko's collections are distinguished by their asymmetrical and unstructured cuts, their dark colors and their aesthetic. destroy (clothes with holes or rips, visible seams...).
The philosophy of Kawabuko?For something to be beautiful it doesn't have to be pretty ". The tone is set!
In 1981, the launch of Comme des Garçons in Paris was like a small bomb on the fashion scene in the capital. The haute-couture houses cried scandal, but the critics praised the avant-garde and innovative spirit of the Japanese designer.
In the decades that followed, Comme des Garçons diversified, opening boutiques around the world and continuing to cultivate its image as the troublemaker of the catwalk.
Comme des Garçons PLAY, a fresh and casual line
Launched in 2002, the PLAY line is one of the ten or so lines of the Comme des Garçons group.
Completely different from the rest of the collections, the CDG PLAY line has a light, playful and relaxed aesthetic. Its logo, a red heart with stylized eyes, was created in 1999 by New York artist Filip Pagowski in collaboration with Rei Kawabuko.
Converse x Comme des Garçons PLAY, a long-standing collaboration
In 2009, Converse joined forces with the Japanese brand to bring a breath of fresh air to its century-old model: the Chuck Taylor All Star.
The sneakers dressed with the famous red heart CDG PLAY are a phenomenal success with the general public and collectors. Why change a winning team? The Japanese house and the American brand are therefore back on the same page many times after their first collaboration.
If Comme des Garçons tries to revisit the Jack Purcell in 2011 and the Pro Leather in 2013, the Chuck Taylor All Star remains the favorite model of the label of Rei Kawabuko.
Converse x Comme des Garçons PLAY, design and models
The trademark of the Converse x Comme des Garçons PLAY limited editions?
The retro silhouette of the Chuck Taylor All Star is kept with a slightly wedge sole. The front of the shoe is also a little smaller than the original model.
The red CDG heart invites itself on the side panel of the sneaker (in one or more copies depending on the edition). The Converse x Comme des Garçons are also distinguished by the addition of a contrasting strip on the back of the heel.
Available in high or low versions, the models come in a variety of colorways depending on the edition: the great black and ecru classics are joined by a Polka Dot version and some acid colors (Bright Pink, Bright Blue ...).
How do the Converse x Comme des Garçons shoes fit?
Just like the Converse x Off-Whitethe Converse x Comme des Garçons fit rather large: it is recommended to take a half size below your usual size.