Back to black
Black can be dreary, dark and damning, but in the case of Comme des Garcons' new line titled "Black," it is delightful and . . . discounted. Black is a lower-priced range that features perennially popular Comme des Garcons styles in mostly black and white. The items are sold at 11 stand-alone shops around the world. There are three locations in Tokyo — Ginza Mitsukoshi, Isetan in Shinjuku, and Shibuya Parco (pictured) — as well an outlet each in Osaka, Fukuoka and Nagoya. Designer Rei Kawakubo plans to keep the line going for "about 18 months" from June, which is likely the time frame she estimates the economic crisis will continue for.
Whatever the reasons for Black, the iconic polka-dot shirts, baggy sarouel pants and blazers at accessible prices (about half the price of the brand's other lines) are a boon to casual and hardcore fans alike. What's more, the line's "speed merchandising," which introduces new styles every six weeks, proves that high-end labels can play the same games as fast-fashion brands.
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