Rei Kawakubo, born in 1942 in Tokyo, founded Comme des Garçons in 1973, launching her first collection two years later. With no formal design training, she quickly became known for her avant-garde, deconstructed approach, challenging conventional silhouettes and redefining the possibilities of fashion.

Expanding into multiple lines—including Comme des Garçons Homme, Homme Plus, Junya Watanabe, and Tricot—and opening international outposts and concept stores like Dover Street Market, Kawakubo transformed fashion into a platform for radical creativity. Her work, rooted in art, philosophy, and conceptual rigor, has influenced generations of designers worldwide, including the Antwerp Six, and established Comme des Garçons as one of the most innovative and enduring forces in contemporary fashion.