Literally, 'like the boys'. Trade name of Rei Kawakubo (born in 1942), a Japanese fashion designer who combines Eastern and Western ideas of clothing with often torn, asymmetrical and crumpled shapes. She started off as a freelance designer in 1966 after spending some years in a Japanese textile company, and formed Comme des Garçons in 1969. The label received wide acclaim and became influential in the 80s, and is still known for unconventional and sometimes bizarre designs.