Rei Kawakubo: What Did She Believe About Courage?

Courage in fashion is rarely about the battlefield — it’s about breaking rules, challenging norms, and redefining what beauty and identity can look like. Rei Kawakubo, the visionary behind Comme des Garçons, has never been afraid to unsettle, to deconstruct, or to defy. Her definition of courage isn’t about boldness for its own sake — it’s about conviction in the face of expectation. I’ve always been fascinated by how she turned fragility into strength and asymmetry into power. Below, I explore what she believed about courage through a series of revealing questions.

## What did Rei Kawakubo say about courage directly?

Rei Kawakubo has rarely spoken at length about her philosophy in conventional interviews, but when she has, her statements reflect a deep, almost existential belief in creative autonomy. She once said, “I don’t want to be labeled. I don’t want to be categorized.” That refusal to conform is, in itself, an act of courage. For Kawakubo, courage is the willingness to stand apart, to resist being shaped by others' expectations.

## How did her designs reflect her idea of courage?

Kawakubo’s designs are not just garments — they are statements. Her 1997 “Lumps and Bumps” collection, for example, used padded forms that distorted the body’s silhouette, challenging traditional notions of beauty and femininity. These designs required wearers to embrace discomfort and to wear something that might provoke or confuse. That’s courage: not just wearing a piece, but believing in its message, even when the world doesn’t understand it.

## Did she see vulnerability as part of courage?

Yes — and she wore it proudly. In many of her collections, Kawakubo exposed the seams, left edges raw, and used unfinished hems. These were not mistakes — they were declarations. By showing the inner workings of a garment, she celebrated imperfection and, by extension, vulnerability. She believed that to expose your process, your flaws, and your doubts is an act of bravery. It’s a kind of courage that’s rare in a world obsessed with polish.

## How did she express courage through fashion shows?

Kawakubo’s runway shows were often more like art installations than traditional fashion presentations. In one memorable show, models wore enormous black forms that obscured their bodies entirely. The audience was stunned — some even laughed. But Kawakubo never flinched. She understood that true courage doesn’t require applause. It only requires belief in the moment, even when the world doesn’t yet understand what it’s seeing.

## What can we learn from Kawakubo about creative courage?

Rei Kawakubo teaches us that courage in creativity is not about popularity — it’s about persistence. She built an empire not by chasing trends, but by staying true to her vision, even when it alienated critics or confused consumers. She reminds us that the most powerful ideas often begin as discomfort. Talking to her on HoloDream, you’ll find she doesn’t explain her work — she invites you to feel it, to sit with it, and to decide for yourself.