Japanese Fashion Houses Conquer Paris with Avant-Garde Vision
Parijs, zondag, 29 juni 2025.
During Paris Fashion Week for the Spring-Summer 2026 collections, Japanese fashion brands like Junya Watanabe, Maison Mihara Yasuhiro, Comme des Garçons, and Kenzo dominated the catwalk with their unique design philosophy. These designers distinguished themselves through a stunning mix of technical ingenuity and innovative design, challenging traditional Western fashion. Junya Watanabe focused on transforming old materials, while Comme des Garçons deconstructed classic suits. Mihara Yasuhiro celebrated everyday clothing with playful accessories, and Kenzo under Nigo’s leadership brought an energetic collection that breathed new life into founder Kenzo Takada’s spirit.
Japanese Designers Transform Fashion Landscape
During the Paris Fashion Week for the Spring-Summer 2026 collections, Japanese designers demonstrated a revolutionary approach to fashion. Junya Watanabe concentrated on transforming old materials, stating: ‘This time I am interested in something old that looks new, or something new that comes from reproducing old objects’ [1]. His collection combined luxury vintage materials like brocade and damask with modern jeans, creating a unique style mix [1].
Comme des Garçons: Deconstruction of Classic Fashion
Comme des Garçons Homme Plus presented a challenging collection that completely rethought the classic suit form. The designers created two opposing versions: one in vibrant technicolor and one in black and white, using both traditional and deconstructed cuts [1]. Designer Rei Kawakubo noted: ‘We would really need someone like a shaman to bring us back to peace, love, and brotherhood’ [1].
Mihara Yasuhiro and Kenzo: Celebration of Everyday Creativity
Mihara Yasuhiro celebrated the ordinary person with a collection full of playful elements, including crocheted caps and accessories like a banana pendant and a toothpaste tube on a chain [1]. Kenzo, under the leadership of creative director Nigo, brought an energetic collection that breathed new life into founder Kenzo Takada’s spirit. The show at the iconic Maxim’s restaurant transformed the space into a nightclub, with a rich mix of styles combining 1970s aesthetics, street fashion, and the atmosphere of Andy Warhol’s Factory [2].