INSPIRED BY THE LYRICS OF A 1962 FRANÇOISE HARDY SONG, REI KAWAKUBO ESTABLISHED COMME DES GARÇONS IN 1969 WITH THE INTENTION OF OFFERING WOMEN, “LIKE BOYS”, CLOTHING THAT OFFERS MOBILITY AND COMFORT. WITH NO FORMAL TRAINING IN FASHION, KAWAKUBO IS A TRUE TRAILBLAZER, BLURRING GENDER NORMS, AS WELL AS THE LINES BETWEEN ART AND FASHION. KAWAKUBO HAS GAINED AN ARRAY OF PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS OVER THE YEARS, INSPIRING NUMEROUS DESIGNERS WITH HER INNOVATIONS, AND CURRENTLY BOASTS OVER 20 DISTINCT LINES AND MANY MEMORABLE COLLABORATIONS.