LECTURE: HAROLD KODA
Posted: 3/9/2008

Sitting in between the cross streets of Woodward and Garfield, this graffiti-covered abstract building serves as the innovative addition to Detroit's Cultural Center. The Museum of Contemporary Art of Detroit, commonly referred to as the MOCAD presented a rare lecture on fashion designer, Rei Kawakubo which was presented by one of the world's leading fashion experts, Harold Koda.

As head curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, Koda scours the globe for inspiration. Tom Ford of Gucci calls The Costume Institute of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York "one of the most influential cultural institutions in the fashion world."

Koda is more accustomed to seeing conventional fashion, but was instantly struck by one of the most atypical fashion designers in the world, Rei Kawakubo of Japan. The founder of Comme des Garcons, her clothing line, was born in Tokyo in 1942. Being untrained as a fashion designer, but having studied fine arts and literature, she conveys her ideas verbally to her pattern-makers. After graduation Kawakubo worked in a textile company and began working as a freelance stylist in 1967.

Her collection consists of sweaters full of holes, jackets with only one sleeve and dresses that are part dress and part pants. Kawakubo's work is thought of as the anti-fashion in the world of fashion.

"[Referring to Rei's collections] they look so unlike what the prevailing fashion designers were doing," Koda said. He added, "Everybody was doing stuff that was crisp, clean, tailored, lavish and gorgeous and then you have someone coming out with these knobby wools, cottons roughly woven, asymmetrical shapes…it was so powerful because it was so counter to anything that we accepted as finished passion."

Many fashion enthusiasts have tried to understand Kawakubo's creative process, but not even she understands her abnormal technique. She stated in her witty comment, "I couldn't explain my creative process to you, and even if I could, why would I want to? Are there people who really wish to explain themselves?"

In Koda's detailed lecture, in addition of discussing Kawakubo's collection, he started with a brief history of fashion by providing a slideshow presentation.

The MOCAD indicates that this event was a "rare" lecture. Despite the attention that she's getting from unique designs, Kawakubo is very media shy. The MOCAD is the second place where she's held an exhibit for her collection.

"The idea that she participated in something like this is really extraordinary. It also says something about the MOCAD that she was able to let them do this", Koda stated.

- Asia Willis
Asia@detroitfashionpages.com

Photos by Marcel Friday
Marcel@detroitfashionpages.com

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COMMENTS

Submitted by Marcel on 3/10/2008 2:24:14 PM
Damn, that's some good photography... that guy is talented!