Rei Kawakubo said of her SS12 collection: ‘MY PRESENT STATE OF MIND, RATHER THAN A THEME.’

She explored notions of simplicity in her own terms, providing us with a typically avant-garde collection that was minimalistic in a uniquely ‘Rei’ way.

Texture and fabric layers created illusions of pattern, and complicated colourways were replaced with monochromatic or two-tone looks. Dresses were huge and voluminous, distorting the shape of the body and instead resembling cocoon-like cases for the models.

In what seems to be a collective mood for designers, Rei wanted to strip back and simplify her approach to design this time around saying;

 »…. what remains in the end after getting rid of all these things is the strongest thing

…. like simple pebbles that you get after rough rocks have been washed over and swept down the river. »

Discover the looks below;