It’s finally here. Two years in the making and with no less than three guerilla (or “pop up,” as the fashion folks like to put it) stores here so far in offbeat places like Haji Lane, Chinatown and Bukit Merah, the first standalone Comme des Garcons finally makes its way here in the form of a clean, minimalist 3,035 square feet space at the Hilton Shopping Gallery, taking over the previous Dolce & Gabbana Store.
Hardcore fans will be glad to know that the store carries almost the entire range of the Comme des Garcons main lines, namely Comme des Garcons Homme Plus, Comme des Garçons Shirt Girl, Comme des Garçons Shirt, Comme des Garçons Play, Comme des Garçons Black and the accessories and perfume range, sans the Ganryu and Junya Watanabe offshoots (the latter two are available at the Club 21b and Club 21 Men boutiques respectively). Having all the legendary label’s seasonal collections under one roof also means that Club 21, which operates the store, can bring in “three times more” of the collection than was previously sold at the Club 21 and Club 21 Men boutiques at Four Seasons Hotel. “We are also able to bring in more edgy pieces than before, which was edited in the previous stores due to space constraint,” says marketing manager Jean-Michel Cosny.
Indeed, the store offers the most coveted Comme des Garcons products under one roof here for the first time. As you step into the clean space, a special series of vintage Paco Rabanne metal bags set in a classy glass display greets you first. But the rest of the store is quintessentially Comme. The joyful Play collection is housed in a capsule design of sorts on your right, and just opposite is where the wallets and fragrance (including Wonderwood, Comme des Garcons White and the special Monocle collaborations incense) can be found.
But it’s the ready-to-wear that takes center stage here. Hundreds of Comme clothes, in all their thoughtful deconstructed glory (especially the gorgeous Comme des Garcons women’s line near the store entrance on the left) will bowl you over. The more affordable replica Black line is also displayed in a special enclosed black paneled area (as opposed to the simpler, white washed space elsewhere, all designed by chief designer Rei Kawakubo herself), while the Plus Homme and Deux line are located at the far right of the store. Standout pieces include the jackets and pants ($1,060 upwards) with skull motifs from the Spring/Summer collection for men, while ladies should keep an eye out for the special collaboration: Dr. Martens boots that cost only $460 and the playful and chic Shirt Girl collection. Cool basics are also available in the form of socks ($60) and simple tees ($190 upwards) which are great for everyday wear.
For clued-in fashionistas, this flagship store has been a long time coming, and is testament to the brand’s crowd appeal and staying power in a fickle industry where only the true visionaries survive. From the looks of it there’s no stopping this 30-year-old powerhouse label.
Comme des Garçons is located at #02-39/40 Hilton Shopping Gallery, 581 Orchard Rd., 6304-1362.
