Medium: Navy blue wool/nylon jersey

Date: Fall 1983

Country: Japan

Credit: Gift of Jean Rosenberg

In this top and skirt set (shown on the right with object 92.13.3 on the left), Rei Kawakubo has slashed, then re-tied, the dark knit fabric to create a ragged asymmetry. Kawakubo began showing collections in Paris in 1981. Although her clothing received criticism for resembling that of a “rag-picker,” her innovative forms and rejection of Western tradition gained respect from fashion individualists. The donor of this piece, Jean Rosenberg, was then Vice President of Henri Bendel and an early advocate of the Comme des Garçons label.

Object Number: 88.157.3