Junya Watanabe is a Japanese designer whose fame is linked to his ability to blend tradition and innovation, experimenting with fabrics, shapes and technologies. From his long career, which began under the guidance of Comme des Garçons, to his most recent collaborations, Watanabe has left a profound mark on the world of fashion, especially thanks to partnerships with major international brands. This article explores his philosophy and some of his most iconic collaborations.
Junya Watanabe's Vision: Innovation and Creativity in Design
Junya Watanabe was born in 1961 in Japan and studied design at the Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo. After joining the legendary fashion house Comme des Garçons, under the direction of the visionary Rei Kawakubo, he began his career as an assistant, before launching his eponymous line in 1992. Since then, his brand has been a mainstay of the concept of Japanese "new fashion", characterized by a minimalist, structural and highly innovative aesthetic.
One of the elements that distinguishes Junya Watanabe is his passion for research and development of new fabrics and materials. This attention to technical details has led him to create garments that not only challenge the norms of traditional fashion, but also stand as truly avant-garde experiments. His designs, often defined as "techno couture", blend the tailored with the futuristic, highlighting an interest in textile technologies, craftsmanship and creative experimentation.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Junya Watanabe's work is his ability to collaborate with other brands from different cultures and fields, keeping his vision intact and reinterpreting classics through his unique lens.
Junya Watanabe x Comme des Garçons
The most lasting and symbolic collaboration is the one with Comme des Garçons, the parent company of his brand. Although Watanabe is now a standalone name, its connection to Rei Kawakubo remains crucial. The brand continues to support and produce its line, and this creative symbiosis represents one of the deepest bonds in contemporary fashion.
Junya Watanabe x New Balance
Another significant project is his collaboration with New Balance, one of the most famous sports footwear companies. In this partnership, Watanabe has reinterpreted some of New Balance's most iconic models, bringing his sartorial approach and his taste for technical materials to the world of sneakers. The resulting shoes combine minimalist aesthetics and technological comfort, making them desirable for fashion fans and streetwear enthusiasts alike.
Carhartt x Junya Watanabe
Carhartt, known for its workwear aesthetic, has teamed up with Junya Watanabe for a series of collaborations that blend functionality and avant-garde. The garments created in these collections are a perfect synthesis between the practical and robust style of the American brand and the Japanese innovation of Watanabe, demonstrating how a designer can transform work classics into high fashion garments.
Canada Goose x Junya Watanabe
The collaboration with Canada Goose led to the introduction of technical outerwear pieces that mix extreme functionality and innovative design. Watanabe has applied his sartorial touch to the Canadian brand's well-known insulating garments, renewing them with unique details and materials that enhance both their aesthetic appearance and resistance to the elements.
CP Company x Junya Watanabe
Over the years, Watanabe has also collaborated with CP Company, another brand known for its attention to functionality and technical design. The jackets and garments born from this collaboration highlight the designer's love for innovative solutions and practical aesthetics, offering garments that combine the best of both brands.
Stussy x Junya Watanabe
Finally, the collaboration with Stussy demonstrated Watanabe's versatility in the world of streetwear. This partnership combines Stussy's classic Californian surf/skate style with Watanabe's innovation and high-fashion sensibility, creating iconic pieces that blend urban aesthetics and experimentation.
Junya Watanabe's collaborations with big brands are not just simple commercial partnerships, but real meetings of visions. His unique approach to fashion, which blends technology, craftsmanship and uncompromising creativity, has made him one of the most influential and respected designers on the contemporary scene. From Comme des Garçons to New Balance, from Carhartt to Canada Goose, Watanabe manages to remain faithful to his philosophy while reinterpreting the language of other brands, creating collections that are always cutting-edge.
Discover the Bernardelli selection of the Junya Waranabe lines on our Online Fashion Boutique.
Our boutiques offer basic/structural personalized alterations to your garments. This service can be requested within two days of the online order delivery, and once altered, the items cannot be returned.