Comme des Garcons Homme: controversy at Paris Fashion Week

Comme des Garcons Homme: controversy at Paris Fashion Week

In January at their Fall/Winter 2020 fashion show, Japanese brand Comme des Garcons (Homme), sent models down the runway in cornrowed wigs and caused a real stir. Social media went into an uproar. The issue to begin with was that white male models wearing badly executed cornrowed wigs seemed in poor taste and many labelled it cultural appropriation.

Via Rex Features

Fuel was added to the fire when fashion-industry journal Women’s Wear Daily referred to the use of the wigs as making the collection “primitive chic”. At this many fashion journalists and enthusiasts on social media were outraged. The use of the adjective primitive in reference to the wigs, which were clearly inspired by hairstyles worn by people of African heritage, created very negative connotations regarding ‘Black hair’.

Comme des Garcons has since issued an apology, telling Dazed: “The inspiration for the headpieces for Comme des Garçons menswear FW’20 show was the look of an Egyptian prince. It was never ever our intention to disrespect or hurt anyone – we deeply and sincerely apologise for any offense it has caused.” The hairstylist responsible for the wigs, Julien D, also issued an apology via Instagram.

Twitter was alight with fashion enthusiasts voicing their concerns and disappointment at the lacklustre apology given. Many also expressed their dismay at Rei Kawakubo, the creative director and co-founder of the label.

Personally, I feel that although the wigs were insensitive to a certain extent, people often forget to remember that for brands as big as Comme des Garcons, all publicity is usually good publicity. There is no chance that directors did not think the wigs would cause a stir online. As much as I do not think that stylists intended to people, I do think that stylists thought the brand would stand out a lot more if the models had been put in cornrowed wigs.

K. Iruwa