Rei Kawakubo has delved into the classic nature of Mikimoto pearls, infusing the cultured pearl strands with subtle subversion and creating a new design identity. Ropes of perfectly symmetrical, luminescent cultured South Sea and Akoya pearls are teasingly disrupted with dangling chains of solid silver, or by an unexpected doubling up of the pearl strings, while other strands see the Comme des Garçons logo hanging provocatively.
Comme des Garçons president Adrian Joffe says there is natural symmetry in the partnership too: ‘Mikimoto approach design and production the same way we do. They work with only the best pearls in the world, and their unwavering commitment to quality was very important to Kawakubo san. As this is our first fine jewellery collaboration it was important that our ethos’ aligned.’
‘It refrains a little from design,’ explains Comme des Garçons founder, Rei Kawakubo. ‘But it is an exercise in creation, making something that looks good by emphasising the existing beauty of the pearl itself.’ The Mikimoto Comme des Garçons collaboration, which comprises seven pearl designs in total, launches in mid-February in both Comme des Garçons and Dover Street Market boutiques around the globe, as well as in the Mikimoto Ginza flagship store. §
