For sale here is a summer weight cotton jacket from Comme des Garcons’ Homme collection. This is a vintage piece from 2002, back when Keiichi Tanaka was the head designer for the Homme line (which has since been overseen by Junya Watanabe). While Comme des Garcons is rightly regarded as one of the foremost Japanese avant garde labels out there, Tanaka is one of the more undersung actors in the CDG universe. He designed for a number of the CDG collections from 1990-2003 and has only coming been into his own among collectors outside of Japan in more recent years. Tanaka often employed a more relaxed aesthetic, using high quality materials and always adding some kind of a twist to the design. Still, the designs with Tanaka’s Homme line are timeless and easily hold up today.
This is a seemingly simple cotton jacket. Fabric is 100% cotton in a pretty light weight, ideal for the warmer weather. Design with the Tanaka Homme pieces is all about what is included as well as what is excluded. Aesthetic is generally minimal but there are these little details that always pop up. The twist here comes in the fabric being overdyed a dark shade of black. CDG has often experimented with different overdyeing and garment dyeing techniques over the years, making some pretty interesting products as a result. In this case the fabric takes on a dark, pleasantly uneven shade, while the thread remains undyed and makes for a very cool contrast. Neck tag and interior tag are also overdyed as a result of the process.
Other details include shell buttons down the front, two large side pockets and a chest pocket. Sleeves are intentionally cut a bit short with additional buttons on the cuffs. These jackets were produced in very limited quantities, were very difficult track down especially outside of Japan, and were very expensive at retail. Tanaka Homme pieces are becoming collector’s items these days, but get a very interesting piece here at the cheapest price around.
Size is labeled a medium and fits intentionally relaxed. I measure the chest at 22.5” / 57cm, shoulders at 19” / 49cm, length at 30.5” / 77cm and sleeves at 21.5” / 55cm from the shoulder (note the slightly dropped shoulder seam, where the sleeve should fall just above the wrist). The jacket comes in lightly used, very good shape especially for its age. There is just some minor wear on the neck but otherwise no holes, tears or stains. Made in Japan.
Shipping from Japan to anywhere will be $30.
