Issey Miyake
While Issey Miyake was not the first Japanese designer to make his name in the West, he was in many aspects a pioneer. By drawing on both Oriental and Western clothing styles he created a hybrid style that has changed our view of what clothing can be.Miyake studied art in Tokyo and then spent five years in Paris and New York working for fashion designers such as Guy Laroche and Givenchy. He was particularly impressed with the unisex and classless uniform of jeans and T-shirts worn in leisure time. On returning to Japan, he investigated the fashion opportunities afforded by traditional Japanese work and leisurewear, as well as the formal kimono and traditional Japanese fabrics.
The designer showed his first collection in both Tokyo and New York, and then braved the critics in Paris in 1973. He has been showing there ever since and has acquired a cult following. Miyake's styles are gradually becoming more refined, with a concentration on greater purity of line.
Issey Miyake Fall Collection 1995