Shortly after graduating from the prestigious Bunka Fashion College, Junya Watanabe was taken under the wing of Rei Kawakubo as an apprentice at Comme des Garcons. Rei Kawakubo saw potential in Watanabe and provided him the opportunity as a fabric cutter for the label. As Watanabe’s craft developed, he was promoted to creative director under the Tricots Comme Des Garcons knitwear line. This spotlight allowed his brilliance to flourish, minimalistic yet intricate items then flaunting the runway shortly after. Spending the next few years honing and finalizing his abilities, in 1992 Rei Kawakubo proposed the idea of his own namesake under the Comme Des Garcons label. This was the birth of Comme Des Garçons - Junya Watanabe MAN, alongside the Japanese designer's legacy.