Comme des Ripoff

I pretty much like to shit on everybody, but I didn’t think I would be doing it to Junya Watanabe, the protege of Rei Kawakubo.  Junya has been working as Rei’s protege through Comme des Garcon, and was given his own Comme des line in 1993.  Junya’s legend stems from his use of highly technical fabrics, and much of the praise is with his ability to creative innovative and distinctive pieces.  Lately, Junya has been fucking up.  There weer a string of collaborations with North Face that was more fruit, then innovation, and now we get this.

Gloverall Duffle Coat is an amazing classic coat.  However, I was hoping Junya would do something “innovative” with this classic piece.  Instead he just stitches some leather onto the shoulder and sleeves.  I’ll put you on to some tailors in the San Gabriel area down in SoCal that’ll hook that leather up on your duffle for $50 flat, while you’re waiting you can buy bootleg Vivid compilations and savor some Peking duck.  The bottom line is that you come to expect more from a designer of Junya’s caliber.  Of course, there is the argument that Junya merely lends his name, but I would not let my name be associated with shit (AND I am a nobody).  This is just another sad, overpriced , and lazy collaboration.   I would have liked to see Junya weave some space age materials into the famous Gloverall wool, but someone felt leather was “technical” enough.

Retail for the coat is around $1425, you can get a regular Gloverall at Sierra Trading Post for $240 when it goes on sale (4-5 hundy regularly).