When people hear the name ‘Comme des Garçons’, a wide variety of images and feelings pop up, proving that the Japanese brand has created an aesthetic universe of its own. This masterful execution of fashion world building couldn't have been fully expanded upon without the catalyst that was the SIX Magazine. Created in 1988, SIX served as a breeding ground for experimental branding with a small twist: the branding rarely (if ever) involved Comme des Garçons’ own clothing. Instead of falling back on conventional methods of fashion advertising, the bi-annual publication incorporated non fashion related artwork and photography to convey the Japanese brand’s collections. SIX also tapped into a wide array of creatives who sometimes weren’t even involved in the industry, and yet this is exactly what gave fashion a breath of fresh air. Not only did SIX solidify Comme des Garçons as an entire entity of its own, it also changed our own perception of fashion to this very day.

SIX Number 6 pulls the reader into a world that bears anguish, chaos, and inner beauty all at once. It can be argued that the main source of inspiration for this issue was the work of Niko Pirosmani and his paintings that depicted everyday life in the country of Georgia. Both Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons and photographer Brian Griffin were passionate about Pirosmani's work, so much so that they set out to Georgia for a photoshoot inspired by the artist himself. The shoot involved locals, each being styled with a mix of traditional Georgian clothing and clothing by Comme des Garçons, resulting in a stellar series of authentic photography. Both the photoshoot and Pirosmani’s paintings were incorporated into the SIX Number 6, while also being paired with equally captivating works from the likes of John L. Murphy, Peter Lindbergh, and Kishin Shinoyama.

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Writer: Riv