If you're obsessed with fashion that's part art, part rebellion, then you're already familiar with Junya Watanabe. His work is all about innovative textures, clever deconstruction, and blending technical streetwear with high-concept tailoring. Junya Watanabe designs for people who want their clothes to say something interesting, not just blend into the background.
For those who love his avant-garde approach and are looking for other labels that push creative boundaries, here are 16 similar brands worth exploring for a dose of experimental style.
As the creative mothership where Junya Watanabe got his start, Comme des Garçons is the most natural place to begin. Founded by the legendary Rei Kawakubo, CDG is the pinnacle of conceptual, avant-garde fashion. You'll find everything from architectural, abstract garments that challenge the human form to more wearable pieces in their PLAY line, recognizable by the iconic heart logo.
Like Watanabe, CDG focuses on deconstruction and experimental silhouettes but often takes it to a more artistic and abstract extreme. If you love Junya's intellectual approach to design, Comme des Garçons is the source code of that entire movement.
Shop now at www.doverstreetmarket.com/comme-des-garcons
Often dubbed the "Lord of Darkness," Rick Owens has built a cult following around his modern, gothic aesthetic. His collections are a masterclass in draping, layering, and creating sculptural silhouettes, predominantly in a palette of black, white, and earthy tones. His designs often feature dramatic asymmetric cuts, elongated hemlines, and a blend of structured leather with soft, flowing fabrics.
While Watanabe’s work often incorporates patchwork and utilitarian details, Owens leans into a darker, more minimalist vision of avant-garde. If you appreciate Junya's conceptual forms but crave a more moody and dramatic vibe, Rick Owens is your man.
Shop now at www.rickowens.eu
Issey Miyake is a pioneer of technologically-driven fashion, best known for his signature pleating technique that allows garments to move and expand with the body. His work is a celebration of innovation, combining traditional Japanese design principles with cutting-edge fabric development to create pieces that are both artistic and incredibly functional. Think sculptural pleats, intricate textiles, and futuristic shapes.
Both Watanabe and Miyake share a deep respect for materiality and experimenting with how fabrics can be transformed. If you love the technical mastery in Junya's pieces, you'll be fascinated by Miyake's blend of art, technology, and wearability.
Shop now at www.isseymiyake.com
Along with Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto is one of the masters of Japanese avant-garde. His aesthetic is defined by voluminous, oversized silhouettes, a predominantly black color palette, and a poetic approach to deconstruction. Yamamoto's designs often feel like wearable sculptures, with beautiful draping and asymmetrical cuts that reject conventional tailoring.
He shares Watanabe's rebellious spirit and love for challenging norms, but Yamamoto’s vibe is often more romantic and philosophical compared to Junya's utilitarian and streetwear edge. For dark, artistic pieces that make a powerful statement, look no further.
Shop now at www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp
For those who love the high-tech, functional side of Junya Watanabe's work, Acronym is the holy grail. This is pure, unadulterated techwear founded on principles of utility and innovative design. Known for its impossibly clever jackets with features like magnetic closures, escape zippers, and sling systems, Acronym makes clothes that feel like they're from the future.
Acronym doubles down on the purely utilitarian and technical elements that Watanabe often plays with, making them a more focused choice for avant-garde streetwear. If the "techno-couture" aspect of Junya's designs gets you excited, you'll feel right at home with Acronym.
Shop now at acrnm.com
The original master of deconstruction, Martin Margiela (and his namesake house, now under John Galliano) redefined fashion by making the construction of a garment its main aesthetic feature. The brand is famous for revealing linings, unfinished seams, and transforming everyday objects into couture. Think retooled flea market finds elevated to luxury levels.
Maison Margiela shares Watanabe's DNA of dissecting and reassembling classic clothing tropes, but with a more conceptual, and often minimalist, approach. For fashion that makes you think, Margiela is an essential addition to your closet.
Shop now at www.maisonmargiela.com
Known for his incredible draping and rich, layered styling, Haider Ackermann offers a more poetic and romantic take on avant-garde fashion. His work is decidedly more refined than Watanabe's, focusing on luxurious silks, sharp tailoring, and a moody color palette filled with jewel tones and dark hues. The silhouettes are often fluid, complex, and effortlessly elegant.
If you drool over Watanabe's complex layering but are looking for something a bit more polished and less street-inflected, Ackermann provides that same level of artistry with a rock-and-roll-poet vibe.
Shop now at www.haiderackermann.com
British designer Craig Green is one of the most exciting names in menswear, known for his exploration of uniforms, utility, and emotion. His collections are striking and sculptural, often featuring abstract shapes, intricate strapping, and a signature layered, padded look. He turns workwear staples into conceptual art pieces that feel both protective and deeply personal.
Like Watanabe, Green has a knack for transforming utilitarian-wear into high-fashion statements. If you're drawn to Junya's jackets and structurally interesting pieces, you will love Craig Green’s unique, emotion-filled vision.
Shop now at craig-green.com
While often seen as the queen of minimalism, Jil Sander (the brand, now under Lucie and Luke Meier) frequently injects stark, architectural, and avant-garde elements into its collections. The focus is on pristine tailoring, luxurious materials, and precise shapes that sometimes swell into oversized, experimental proportions. It’s a very considered, modern form of quiet rebellion.
For those who admire the pure design and clean lines occasionally found in Watanabe's work, Jil Sander offers a more refined, less deconstructed alternative. It's avant-garde for the person who also loves extreme simplicity.
Shop now at www.jilsander.com
Founded by Chitose Abe, who also worked at Comme des Garçons alongside Junya Watanabe, Sacai is known for its incredible talent in creating hybrid garments. Abe splices two classic items together - like a trench coat with a bomber jacket or a knit sweater with a poplin shirt - to create something entirely new and unexpected. The result is clothing that is complex, surprising, and beautifully made.
Sacai shares Watanabe’s love for reinterpreting classic military and wardrobe staples in a conceptual way. If you love Junya’s unexpected fabric combinations and reconstructed anoraks, Sacai's hybrid designs will be your new obsession.
Shop now at www.sacai.jp/en-jp
Damir Doma offers a raw, poetic take on Avant-Garde fashion, centered on layered silhouettes and textured, natural fabrics. His designs have a beautifully unfinished quality, often featuring draped fabrics, earthy colors, and an air of quiet solemnity. It’s an intellectual and artistic style that feels both ancient and modern at the same time.
Similar to Watanabe's focus on texture and form, Damir Doma provides a more organic and somber interpretation of layered, deconstructed fashion. It's a great option for those who favor a more subdued yet equally conceptual statement.
Shop now at damirdoma.com
Under the direction of Glenn Martens, Y/Project has become synonymous with architectural, genre-bending fashion. Martens is known for his twisted, multi-layered constructions and a playful sense of proportion. Think jeans with detachable legs, sweaters that can be worn multiple ways, and extreme, over-the-top ruffles. It's historical references meet modern street style in the most innovative way.
Both Y/Project and Watanabe love to transform classic garments into new, mind-bending forms. If the structural complexity of Junya's pieces is what appeals to you, Y/Project turns that dial up to eleven.
Shop now at yproject.fr
Vetements exploded onto the scene with a high-fashion, tongue-in-cheek take on streetwear culture. Known for its exaggerated silhouettes, logo flips, and appropriation of everyday "uniforms" (like the DHL t-shirt), the brand has a rebellious and deconstructed spirit. Oversized hoodies, reconstructed denim, and wild proportions are staples here.
Like Watanabe, Vetements finds inspiration in streetwear and upends it with a conceptual, luxury lens. It’s a great fit if you're drawn to Junya’s more casual, denim-heavy pieces but want something with a more ironic, logo-centric edge.
Shop now at vetementswebsite.com
Hussein Chalayan is one of fashion's true intellectuals and innovators, known for pushing boundaries between fashion, technology, and art. His work is highly conceptual, featuring garments that transform on the runway, like a coffee table that turns into a skirt or dresses embedded with LED lights. Each collection tells a powerful story, exploring complex themes through clothing.
Chalayan shares Watanabe's penchant for technical innovation, but his approach is often more narrative-driven and theatrical. If you view fashion as a form of critical inquiry, Chalayan’s work is a must-see.
Shop now at chalayan.com
Lemaire creates timeless, sophisticated pieces with a subtle, avant-garde touch seen in their masterful draping, unique closures, and quiet sense of volume. Helmed by Sarah-Linh Tran and Christophe Lemaire, the brand focuses on luxurious, everyday essentials that feel both practical and poetic. The shapes are often fluid and slightly oversized, giving them an artistic feel without screaming for attention.
For those who love the structural intelligence of Junya's clothes but prefer a softer, more understated aesthetic, Lemaire is the perfect choice. It's sophisticated design for real life.
Shop now at us.lemaire.fr
Founded by Jun Takahashi, Undercover brilliantly merges punk rebellion with high-fashion craftsmanship. Often described with the motto "We make noise, not clothes," the brand is known for its dark, cinematic references, graphic prints, and a deft mix of deconstructed details with perfectly executed tailoring. Pieces can range from intricate, couture-like gowns to punk-inspired leather jackets decorated with studs and zippers.
Undercover shares Watanabe's love for splicing together different stylistic elements - street, punk, and couture - but with a distinctly grittier, pop-culture-obsessed lens. It's perfect for anyone who wants their avant-garde fashion with a side of punk attitude.
Shop now at store.undercoverism.com
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