Junya Watanabe MAN

Junya Watanabe was raised in the Comme des Garçons creative hothouse under the watchful eye of Rei Kawakubo. His first collection, released in 2001, has been praised for its avant-garde approach and astute positioning in the decades since. Watanabe collections are distinguished by functional garments such as windbreakers made of innovative and technical materials.

Junya Watanabe's name is pronounced "joon'ya wa'ta'na'bey." Junya is a Japanese word that roughly translates to "pure" or "purity." Watanabe is the fifth most common surname, meaning "ferryside." Junya Watanabe is a platform for the designer to realize his forward-thinking ideas. Unusual cuts and asymmetrical silhouettes are complemented by sultry leather, patchwork designs, punchy denim embellishments, and other out-of-the-box details and materials. Each season, one can expect edgy aesthetics to mix with haute couture craftsmanship.

Junya Watanabe Man is primarily concerned with creating simple yet intricately detailed apparel that’s smart, functional, and timeless. The designer’s 20-year-old label seeks inspiration from different facets of menswear—from traditional military uniforms to late 20th-century workwear—to create pieces to be worn ad infinitum; in short, they’re the kind of garb you’ll be passing down to your children and your children’s children.