Comme des Garçons is definitely enjoying the moment: Rei Kawakubo’s fashion label experienced a 30 % profit increase last year and it is now preparing a new brand that will launch online in July, followed by a release in six stores later this year.
Launch online
Not much is known about Comme des Garçons’ new line, but it is clear that its eighteenth brand will focus on online sales: it will launch online in July on a web shop CdG’s creative director Rei Kawakubo is currently designing. Later on, the collection will also be on sale in six new brick-and-mortar stores worldwide.
The launch will coincide with the reopening of Dover Street Market’s first Chinese store. It is Kawakubo’s multi-brand store, opened with her husband Adrian Joffe in London, with locations in New York City, Tokyo and Singapore. The couple’s two companies are doing very well: Dover Street Market, which also sells Ann Demeulemeester, Balenciaga, Céline and Gucci, sold an additional 35 % last year. CdG’s turnover grew 30 % to 300 million dollars (243 million euro) last year.
Even though the new brand still lacks plenty of public details, its online sales should have a blitz start. Kawakubo has built an extensive fanbase over the years and her popularity spiked even more when she received an honorary tribute at the prestigious Met Gala’s latest edition.
