Comme des Garçons and Repetto: a polka-dot collaboration 20 years later

Twenty years after their first meeting, Comme des Garçons and Repetto are teaming up again. A limited capsule of polka-dot shoes punctuates the Paris fall season.

In 2004, the union between French shoemaker Repetto, a symbol of patrimonial elegance, and Rei Kawakubo‘s avant-garde label Comme des Garçons, left a lasting impression. Three emblematic models – ballerinas and Zizi – were adorned with black, gray and red accents, flirting between tradition and experimentation. Two decades later, the two houses are repeating the experiment, but with a renewed, contemporary approach.

A capsule with polka dots

For back-to-school 2025, Comme des Garçons revisits two iconic Repetto models: the Rose ballet flats and the Camille low-heeled shoes. What makes them special? A black and white polka-dot motif, a nod to one of Rei Kawakubo’s favorite graphic codes.

This capsule, produced in limited series, is not a simple repetition of the past. Where the first collaboration had a rockier aesthetic, this new version is softer, almost baby doll-like, yet resolutely contemporary.

A unique craft technique

Beyond the visual effect, the technique used gives each pair its own identity. Thanks tohydro dipping, a process that involves immersing the already manufactured shoe in a printing bath, the polka dots are applied randomly. The result: each model becomes unique, in keeping with the artisanal spirit of Repetto, which continues to produce its shoes in France.

In a context where polka-dot motifs are multiplying in collections, this capsule comes at just the right time. After the Marine Serre and Jacquemus fashion shows, polka dots have become one of the season’s major trendsetters.

A lasting Franco-Japanese dialogue

This collaboration is further proof of Repetto’s capacity for dialogue with international designers. Having worked with Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto in the early 2000s, then seduced the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and the iconic Colette concept store, the French house continues to build bridges between tradition and the avant-garde.

For Comme des Garçons, this capsule underlines Rei Kawakubo’s fidelity to her graphic obsessions, while adding a touch of lightness to her often radical universe.

Paris, a natural launching pad

If the collaboration resonates internationally, it is in Paris that it takes on its full meaning. The capital, where Repetto has been based since 1947, remains the natural stage for this type of launch. The timeless polka dots echo a Parisian aesthetic that loves to play between chic and eccentric. This capsule should be particularly popular with fashion lovers in search of exclusive pieces.

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