Jun'ya Watanabe

Jun'ya Watanabe ( Japanese 渡 辺 純 也 , Watanabe Jun'ya ; * 1961 in Fukushima Prefecture ) is a Japanese prêt-à-porter fashion designer. He graduated from Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo in 1984 . Junya Watanabe became internationally known as the protégé of the Japanese fashion designer Rei Kawakubo , with whom he still works today. In addition to this collaboration, he established his own brand in Tokyo in 2001.

Working as a designer

Collaboration with Comme des Garçons

Jun'ya Watanabe has worked as chief designer for the tricot line of the Japanese fashion label Comme des Garçons since 1987 . He was also appointed chief designer of the Comme des Garçons men's collections ( Homme Plus and Homme Plus Evergreen ) and is still working on the label's annual collections. In 1993 he developed his first collection under his own name for the Comme des Garçons label , Junya Watanabe Comme des Garçons Man .

Self-employed since 2001

In 2001 Jun'ya Watanabe developed his first collection for his own label "Junya Watanabe". At first he only designed men's clothing; later a women's collection was added. His fashion is still sold in collaboration with Comme des Garçons to this day . His collections are presented twice a year in Tokyo, Paris and London .

In 2007 Watanabe developed a limited sneaker shoe collection in collaboration with the shoe manufacturer Converse . In 2008 a special collection for the shoe manufacturer Vans followed . Watanabe also designed a polo shirt collection for the sportswear manufacturer Lacoste and a range of winter jackets for the French company Moncler . Under the slogan eye Comme des Garçons Junya Watanabe, Watanabe markets creations in collaboration with Lacoste, Levi’s , Nike , New Balance, Fred Perry , Converse, Vans, Moncler, Brooks Brothers and Dickies (Coast).

philosophy

Similar to his mentor Rei Kawakubo, Watanabe follows a strict design principle, which is characterized by innovative, modern and yet simple fabrics. Synthetic and high-tech materials as well as simple and revolutionary processing characterize his collections. Jun'ya Watanabe is thus often referred to as a techno couture designer , although he also values ​​Japanese traditions and light fabrics such as cotton .

Occasionally, Watanabe creates quite unusual collections that are repeatedly received and criticized by the international press. In 2003 he showed a men's collection with models wearing headgear from the costumes of the science fiction classic Star Wars . For autumn / winter 2014 Watanabe presented a complete collection in cooperation with the German manufacturer Seil Marschall, which also underlined its claim to the highest quality.