Like most of the Dover Street Market window installations that have us clutching for its nearest door handles, Rei Kawakubo's latest has once again whetted our need for the store's retail fix - this time by turning the spotlight on Matt Groening's dysfunctional comic strip characters 'Binky & Sheba'.
Kawakubo's conceptualisation makes a playful visual precursor for the launch of the latest series of T-shirts from the Comme des Garçons Play line, which feature the motley crew of unlikely characters Groening came up with in 1977 for his 'Life in Hell' comic strip. There's main star Binky, a therapy-needing depressed rabbit stuck in a dead end job, Sheba his ex-girlfriend, Bongo his illegitimate son, and Ackbar and Jeff, the sometimes-brothers-sometimes-lovers entrepreneurial pair with various business ventures including the 'Tofu Hut' and the 'Bootleg and T-shirt Hut'.
'Binky & Sheba' marks the latest in a long series of eye-popping transformation that the shop has undergone with each new season collection, either by Kawakubo herself or with the help of guest designers and friends such as Chanel, Stephen Jones, Gary Card and Tom Dixon. Fittingly, we thought it was about time we pay tribute to some of windows that have pioneered the evolution of a ground-breaking store.
Currently enjoying a series of worldwide launches...
... ’Binky & Sheba’ marks the new range of T-shirts from Matt Groening x Comme des Garcons Play series
The panel and plinth installation, which run from the window-front into the interior of the store...
... feature Groening’s portrayal of a motley crew of unlikely characters he came up with in 1977 for his ’Life in Hell’ comic strip
The T-Shirt shelves that form the farthest point of the window installation. ’Binky & Sheba’ marks the latest in a long series of interior transformation that the shop has consistently undergone with each new season collection launch
Egg London’s window display for ’Clothes Of The Land: Timeless Fashion’, February 2011
Comme des Garçons’ ’Merry Happy Colour Crazy’ elephant installation by Stephanie Quayle, November 2010
Peanuts 60th anniversary, October 2010
Tommy Hilfiger and Keith Haring window by Studio Andy Hillman, April 2010...
... which was brought out for the UK pre-launch of this footwear capsule collection
The Petersham Nurseries window, May 2010
Comme des Garçons Homme Deux, April 2010
Baccarat’s ’Bouchons de Carafe’ installation, March 2010
The Artek ’10-Unit System’ furniture concept by Shigeru Ban, October 2009
’Endless Summer’ by Andy Hillman, July 2009
The window display for Black by Comme des Garçons, June 2009...
... which on closer inspection turned out to be an inviting pair of shiny black lips
’Bearbricks’, May 2009 - three giant creatures created specially to mark the arrival of the Comme des Garçons Black shop at Dover Street Market
Barbie 50th anniversary, April 2009
Octopus by Le Trois Garcons, January 2009
’Crystal Journey’ by Andy Hillman, November 2008
Comme des Garçons ’Printed Matter’ exhibition, October 2008, featuring the artwork of Argentine art collective Mondongo, reworked by Comme des Garçons
The UK debut of the Comme des Garçons Homme Deux line, October 2008...
... featuring images from when Gilbert and George worked together with the brand
Repetto 60th anniversary, August 2008
Comme des Garçons Homme Plus ’Time for Magic’ collection window art by Jamie Reid, July 2008
Chanel at Dover Street Market, June 2008
This Chanel window installation announced the arrival of the Metiers d’Arts Paris-Londres Collection in store
Lanvin bridal collection launch, March 2008
Stephen Jones perfume launch, September 2009
Stephen Jones perfume launch, September 2009
Tim Walker’s book launch installation by day, May 2008...
... and by night
’Sparkling party’ by Gary Card, December 2007
Comme des Garçons Homme Plus window quadrille by Michael Howells, July 2007
The Tom Dixon window installation announcing the launch of his new polo shirts in collaboration with Lacoste, October 2006
Nike World Cup May 2006
Store-front for UK Jack OK!, April 2006, curated by Colette’s Sarah Lerfel
UK Jack OK!, April 2006
Michael Costiff’s ’Amazon Punk’, February 2006
Stephen Jones 25th Anniversary, December 2005
’Tide Chandelier’ installation by Stuart Haygarth, October 2005
ADDRESS
17-18 Dover Street
London
W1S 4LT
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