13 Facts About Junya Watanabe

Junya Watanabe was born on 1961 and is a Japanese fashion designer, a protege of Comme des Garcons designer Rei Kawakubo.

Junya Watanabe continues to work for Comme des Garcons: His atelier is located on the second floor of its Tokyo headquarters, and he produces four shows a year in Paris.

In 2007, Watanabe was licensed by Converse to design a series of All-Star shoes.

In 2012, Junya Watanabe designed the remote-control toy car The Hornet for the Tamiya Corporation, and released a matching pair of Reebok Pump.

Junya Watanabe worked with Comme des Garcons and the video game designer Yoko Taro to develop a cosplay collection.

Junya Watanabe currently continues to work for Comme des Garcons.

Junya Watanabe's atelier is located on the second floor of the Comme des Garcons headquarters in Aoyama, Tokyo.

Junya Watanabe often uses the word monozukuri to describe his work.

Junya Watanabe has cited Pierre Cardin and Issey Miyake as influences.

Junya Watanabe is often considered a "techno couture" designer, creating unusually structured clothes out of modern, technical materials.

Junya Watanabe's 2015 show in Paris was criticized for his gauche use of cultural appropriation.

Junya Watanabe's work is considered more practical than his mentor, Rei Kawakubo's.

Junya Watanabe keeps a very low profile, not appearing for the customary bow at the end of his runway shows, which he presents four times a year in Paris, rarely giving interviews to the press, and is reticent to talk about himself in general.