Pair of mens 'Jugo' boots by Comme des Garcons
Object No. 2016/1/1
This pair of men's 'Jugo' boots were designed under the direction of Rei Kawakubo for the Tokyo fashion brand Comme des Garçons Homme Plus for their Spring/Summer 2015 collection. Inspired by Mexican Guarachero boots, this pair has been re-imagined with an overly extended toe, fitted style of ankle and elastic sided gussets. Runway models paraded the boots for Comme des Garçons Homme Plus show in Paris with military-inspired jackets and bermuda shorts infused with colourful prints and tones, reminiscent of naval uniforms. Guarachero boots are said to have originated in Matehuala, Mexico and are a popular choice of footwear for men in parts of Mexico and the southern states of America, like Texas and Oklahoma. They are also associated with the 'tribal guarachero' electronic music and dance subculture. While Guaracheros have also been recognised as a coincidental revival of the Medieval poulaine - the pointy-toed shoe favoured by young men as an expression of their virility during the Middle Ages - they are traditionally shorter and less curled at the toe than what we can see in this particular example.
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Summary
Object Statement
Boots (pair), 'Jugo', mens, spring-summer 2015, leather / elastic / synthetic / rubber / metal, Comme des Garçons Homme Plus, Japan, made in Mexico, 2015
Physical Description
Pair of men's black leather boots with elongated, pointed toes which curl up and back toward the knees. The boots feature tonal stitching, elasticised side gussets, pull on tabs and tan leather soles. The interior is lined with cream leather. Maker's marks are featured on the inner and outer soles.
DIMENSIONS
Height
550 mm
Width
100 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
These boots were designed by Japanese fashion label, Comme des Garçons, in Japan for their Spring-Summer 2015 menswear collection and made in Mexico.
HISTORY
Notes
Comme des Garçons was founded in Japan by Rei Kawakubo in 1969 (and registered as Comme des Garçons Ltd in 1973). Kawakubo, who was born in 1942, is widely acknowledged as one of the world's most original and influential fashion designers. She studied literature and fine arts at the University of Keio and worked for several years in an advertising department as a stylist before launching her women's wear line Comme des Garcons. Worldwide recognition followed her first Paris parade in 1981, which she presented with Yohji Yamamoto. Right from the start of her career, Kawakubo has continually experimented with existing forms of dressing. Her early 1980s collections featured boiled black wool with frayed edges and holes that enveloped the body like a baggy multi functional piece of clothing. Another notable avant-garde collection presented in 1997 featured randomly placed bulges, creating humpbacks, crooked shoulders and wide hips. Much of her work has challenged tenets of Western fashion. The innovative use of asymmetrical cut, worn textures, frayed edges and a palette of blacks made Kawakubo one of the most radical of avant garde designers of the 1980s and 1990s. These boots were purchased from Harrolds luxury fashion retailer in Sydney.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Purchased with funds donated by Vicki Brooke in memory of her mother Nancy Sutton, 2015
Acquisition Date
14 January 2016
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