Avant-garde designers Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons and Yohji Yamamoto made their joint Paris debut in 1981 with a show centered on the theme of “destitution.” Their asymmetrical lines, intentional imperfections, and torn-up industrial-grade fabrics within a black monochromatic palette stunned the European fashion community. But the two designers’ eventual success turned “Japanese fashion” into a full-fledged movement on the global stage and brought new attention to innovative predecessors Issey Miyake and Kenzō Takada.
