Every six months in their world renowned ‘DSM’ boutique in London, Comme des Garcons close their doors for three days for ‘Tachiagari’. Taken from the Japanese term for ‘new beginnings’, this event marks the arrival of new season collections during which new art installations and reimagined merchandising spaces are formed with all past season items removed.
With Comme des Garcons Wallet however, it is safe to say that Comme des Garcons pursue a different method of ensuring availability. As we know it today, Comme des Garcons Wallet emerged in 1988, with the zip closing system crossing the boundary between what was previously viewed as a feminine wallet feature, to form a unisex product. Comme des Garcons Wallet collections are subject to a period of slow evolution, with many colourways and styles – of which there are over 25 – reproduced each season, whilst matt blacks to intense electric blue’s bridge the gap between ‘formality and fun’.
2010 arguably saw the largest acceleration of Comme des Garcons Wallet creation in recent years, with the release of the FLUO and Luxury series; the latter of which comes courtesy of Hermès production. Comme des Garcons Wallet however, remains one of the few sub-brands within Comme des Garcons which has largely remained free from design collaboration. This should not be seen as a surprise when considering that the only branding of a Comme des Garcons wallet comes in the form of small gold text generally on the inside of the piece, maintaining a personal appeal.
The 'Comme des Garcons Pocket Shop' project launched in 2008 – following the end of the guerilla stores –aims to bring mainly Comme des Garcons Wallet products to ‘unusual’ worldwide locations; once again showing the products ‘core’ nature. Such a discrete existence is vital for a product which allows Comme des Garcons to reach beyond their often avant-garde clothing collections, yet perhaps the small zip tab is all that’s really required to signify their quality?