Japanese Fashion Designers

Commes des Gracons- Fashion Designer Rei Kawakubo, founder of Comme des Garcons, was born in Tokyo in 1942. Being untrained as a fashion designer, but having studied fine arts and literature, she conveys her ideas verbally to her patternmakers. After graduation Kawakubo worked in a textile company and began working as a freelance stylist in 1967.

Junya Watanabe-Born in Tokyo in 1967, Watanabe graduated from Bunka Fashion College, Tokyo, in 1984 and immediately joined Comme des Garçons as a pattern cutter and underling of founder-owner of Comme des Garçons, designer Rei Kawakubo. Three years later Watanabe began designing the Comme des Garçons 'Tricot' line and after a further five years he introduced his first own-label collection in 1992. Although designing under his own name, Watanabe still works under the overall Comme des Garçons title, which administrates and produces his collections. In 1993 Watanabe moved his shows from Tokyo to Paris and another eight years later he launched a menswear line in 2001. Junya Watanabe is renowned for his avant-garde style; in particular, his exploration of new cutting concepts, his ingenious sourcing of fabrics and innovative draping techniques.

Limi Yamamoto, daughter of dark, deconstructed fashion pioneer Yohji, has been presenting her collections in Tokyo -- but not as part of Japan Fashion Week -- under the Limi Feu moniker since 2000. Her aesthetic is similar to that of her father: conceptual clothing for cerebral women, with plenty of generously proportioned tailoring in a dour color palette of black, white and navy. According to Limi, creating clothes for European bodies was at first daunting. "I feared that my designs might only be suitable for Japanese women -- that Europeans might not suit them or appreciate them -- but by doing this collection I realized that was just a barrier I was making for myself, and my work appeals to women everywhere."

Ritsuko Shirahama-Majored in English and American Literature at Seikei University. Finished Vantan Design Institute and joined Alpha Cubic Co., Ltd in 1990. Joined Almond Eye in 1983 and launched her own eponymous label in 1984. Debuted her runway collection line at Tokyo Collection in 1988. Worked at Paris Atmosphere Exhibition in 1995. Began to export to Europe and the US in 1996 and has sold to 50 shops in 10 countries. Opened her Ritsuko Shirahama shop in Daikanyama, Tokyo. Started Re*r Ritsuko Shirahama in 2004.

A 1992 graduate of London's Central Saint Martins, Tao is the latest hopeful to emerge from behind the scenes at Comme des Garçons, where she now works with her own team of six designers.
Tao's collections tend to be somewhat feminine and playful, often using doses of color or articles insprired by lingerie. Designing for four seasons under Comme Des Garcons, Tao's collections are often romantic and personal.

Jun Takahashi is a founder and head designer of cult Japanese label 'Undercover'. Born in Kiryu, Gunma prefecture, Japan in September 1969, Takahashi studied Fashion Design at the Bunka Academy of Fashion. During his study period, he founded the 'Undercover' brand with his friend and classmate, Nigo (who now heads the inconic Japanese streetwear label 'A Bathing Ape'). Following his graduation in 1991, Takahashi continued to develop his Undercover label and showcased his A/W '94-'95 collection in Tokyo in March 2004. In October 2002, his Undercover S/S '03 collection debuted during Paris Fashion Week. By 2003, Takahashi had received two prestigious prizes, awarded by the Japanese daily newspaper 'Mainichi'. Takahashi has become renowned for his unique sense of street fashion and his use of 'weird and wonderful' references, ranging from flower bouquets, Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange", taxidermy and Japanese Manga art. The Undercover label has received support and enthusiasm from notable designers including Miuccia Prada and Rei Kawakubo and writer Suzy Menkes, who recently hailed Takahashi 'the essence of Japanese cool'. Takahashi works from his Tokyo-based design studio entitled the 'Undercoverlab' that was designed by the Klein Dytham archirectural group in 2001 and continues to show as part of the official Paris Fashion Week schedule. As well as twelve stores in locations including Hong Kong, Taiwan and Tokyo. the Undercover label also occupies a 'stall' at Rei Kawakubo's retail concept 'Dover Street' in London. In 2005, Takahashi was invited by Canon to create an Undercover limited-edition digital camera case and in 2006, was chosen to guest edit the June edition of the Belgian 'A Magazine'.

-Show Studio.

Yohji Yamamoto's starkly elegant clothing blurs the distinction between fashion and sculpture, Yamamoto creates apparel that is more high fashion than low rent, more chic than cheap. The minimalist aesthetic and largely black palette may seem simple, but the devil is in the details. Y-3, the designer's collaboration with Adidas, includes sneakers, polos, gym wear, and bathing suits, all of which play to Adidas sporty look.

Y's is the first line created by Fashion Designer Yohji Yamamoto in the beginning of the seventies ( first show in 1977 in Tokyo) Yohji Yamamoto designed a collection for women based on men's garments, cut in uncluttered shapes, washed fabrics and dark colors.These clothes expressed a functional elegance and sobriety that Yohji Yamamoto would reaffirm, a few years later with Y's for men.Today, Y's and Y's for men have taken their place as practical, day to day wear beyond the bounds of fashion and shifting trends. Yohji Yamamoto In 1981 Yohji Yamamoto presented his first Yohji Yamamoto collection in Paris and in 1984 he presented his first Yohji Yamamoto pour Homme collection Fabric is always the starting point of his design, and the superposition of clothing is what defines the best his silhouetteYohji Yamamoto clothes destructured and ample In the begining, evolved through time into something more structured , fitted to the body in a spirit of couture -with- a- twistYohji Yamamoto + Noir This collection is based on classic and timeless pieces of theYohji Yamamoto line.Each season half of the collection changes, while the other half stays the same .Yohji Yamamoto + Noir is almost entirely black with a punctuation of bright colors.Deluxe women's ready-to-wear Yohji Yamamoto Deluxe men's ready-to-wear Yohji Yamamoto pour Homme Women's ready-to-wear Y'sMen's ready-to-wear Y'S for Men This line includes Y's for men Shirt and the "Red Label",in refined fabrics,et which is directly inspired from the wardrobe of Mr Yamamoto. Y's for men shirt is available only in Japan. Women's ready-to-wear Yohji Yamamoto