There Can Only Be 19 Pierced Junya Watanabe Sunglasses
It doesn't get any more statement than pierced eyewear. COMME des GARÇONS designer Junya Watanabe took his talents for avant-rockstar designs to Berlin-based eyewear manufacturer Kuboraum, and the two created a pair of sunglasses that look straight out of Teezo Touchdown's wildest dreams.
The Mask X21 Silver sunglasses debuted at Watanabe's Spring/Summer 2025 menswear runway show alongside gems like his collaborative New Balance Minimus sneakers and high-.tech Oakley stompers.
Watanabe's new glasses are shaped by Kuboraum's "Burnt" technique, which lightly chars the surface of the shades by hand, meaning each one of the 19 pairs is unique. Yes, only 19 pairs of these things exist.
Sterling silver hoops and springs line the perimeter of the shades, resulting in a punkishly pierced appearance.
The limited-edition Mask X21 glasses, available exclusively at COMME des GARÇONS stores and Dover Street Market outposts, retail for $1,473. Steep compared to more standard glasses but right on par with similarly spiked sunnies like Vetements x Oakley Spikes, which went for about $1,190 a few yesrs ago. Only Watanabe's eyewear, however, is handmade.
As innovative as the Mask X21 shades are, pre-accessorized eyewear isn't new.
In 2024, Gentle Monster released a series of Sailor Moon-flavored bejeweled readers. Before that, the brand also released some jelly candy-inspired sunnies that wear various heart-shaped embellishments.
This also isn't Watanabe's first time going mega-metal. Just take a look at how he turned HOKA's Ora Primo clog into a full-on rock n' roll slip-on, very reminiscent of the Japanese designer's SS22 rocker tees.
But pierced eyewear? That might just be his punkest pursuit of all.
