Junya Watanabe

Deprecated: htmlentities(): Passing null to parameter #2 ($flags) of type int is deprecated in /home/purpleinstitute/preprod/releases/20260106124831Z/web/app/themes/purple/includes/class.magarticlehelper.php on line 52
Junya Watanabe

interview by OLIVIER ZAHM
portrait by JUNJI HATA
photography by FREDERIKE HELWIG

 

One of the world’s most creative and high-tech fashion designers lives in Tokyo and rarely speaks to the press.

OLIVIER ZAHM — You started your own company more than 20 years ago. Can you tell us about your personal evolution in relation to the transformation of fashion?
JUNYA WATANABE — Let me correct you. It is not my company. It is Rei Kawakubo’s company and I work in it. As for my personal evolution, I think it has not been isolated from the overall transformation of fashion. I feel that my technique has certainly developed, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a positive change. With the surrounding situation, to be honest, I sometimes feel that it is very difficult to create something outstanding and interesting these days.

Blue…