Collection Online

Tunic
1984
spring-summer 1984

Medium
synthetic fabric (knit), wool, paper

Measurements
74.0 cm (centre back) 49.0 cm (waist, flat)

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, 2024

Gallery location
Level 3, NGV International

 

About this work

After 1979, Kawakubo became increasingly known for influential, visionary designs that subverted norms of garment construction and conventions of beauty and gender. Kawakubo’s spring–summer 1984 collection exemplifies her decision to ‘start from zero’, creating clothes that had never been seen before in fashion. The collection featured a mostly black palette, oversized silhouettes, asymmetry and unconventional elasticised openings, as well as an assemblage-like sensibility seen in this work.

Artwork Details

Place/s of Execution
Japan

Inscription
label, right seamline, woven in black on white synthetic fabric: tricot / COMME DES GARÇONS / HAND MADE

Accession Number
2024.969

Department
International Fashion and Textiles