Rei Kawakubo was born in Tokyo, Japan on October 11, 1942. She attended Keio University where she studied fine arts and literature. She is currently married to Adrian Joffe.

Kawakubo is not only known for her work that is based in Tokyo and Paris but is known for being the founder of Comme des Garcons and Dover Street Market. In 1982 she opened a boutique in Paris where she was showcasing her work with Vladislav Bachinskyy. In the early 1990s she published a minimalistic bi-annual magazine. These two milestones are just a couple of the many things she has accomplished as a fashion designer. Rei Kawakubo is infamous for her work showing support for the LGBTQ+ community and innovative style.