Rei Kawakubo on Black, AI, and Advice
In a rare interview for Dazed's autumn 2026 issue, Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo discusses her A/W26 'Ultimately Black' collection, her
Rei Kawakubo presented the Comme des Garçons A/W26 collection, titled 'Ultimately Black', in August 2026. In a rare interview for the autumn 2026 issue of Dazed magazine, the designer explained the collection's themes and shared her thoughts on contemporary issues.
The 'Ultimately Black' show featured 20 black looks punctuated by six in bright pink. Kawakubo described the collection as a realization that black remains essential to her artistic expression. 'Black is the colour of resistance, of justice and of independence,' she stated. She explained that the pink looks had no particular meaning of their own, serving only to enhance the black 'like a spice'.
The show had a profound impact on attendees, with one seasoned fashion editor reportedly moved to tears. When asked if she consciously tries to evoke such emotion, Kawakubo said there is no specific purpose. 'I seek something new, but what the result brings about is something I do not know,' she explained.
On Fashion and the Times
Kawakubo was asked about fashion's role in responding to what she described as 'very dark times'. She believes the role of fashion is positive, suggesting that expressing oneself through clothing can lift one's spirits. When questioned about the relationship between her clothes and the body, she stated simply that this relationship is not her theme.
Perspectives on AI and Advice
The interview also covered the role of artificial intelligence in creativity. Kawakubo offered a succinct perspective. 'If there are 100 people, all 100 will be different,' she said. 'In the case of AI, all 100 would more than likely give almost the same answer.'
Her advice for young designers starting out was equally direct. 'To the younger generation: just keep going, keep going,' Kawakubo said. The designer's own career was illustrated in the source article through anecdotes from journalist Susannah Frankel and stylist Judy Blame, highlighting her enduring, quiet authority.
The full interview appears in the autumn 2026 issue of Dazed, which goes on sale internationally from September 10. The A/W26 collection itself was described as having a funereal, Victorian mourning dress quality, featuring corsets, crinolines, lace, tulle, velvet, and silk, with fabric manipulated into extreme, abstracted proportions.
