Issey Miyake is by far the most well-known Japanese designer in the world. Over the past 30 years he has succeeded in having successfully merged East and West in his designs. His men’s and women’s collection are defined as slim, beautifully-cut, architecturally-constructed designs with an emphasis on subtle details.
Miyake was born in Hiroshima in 1938. He established the Miyake Design Studio in 1970 and started showing his line at the Paris collections in 1973.
Miyake’s basic principle for making clothes has always been the notion of creating an article of clothing from one piece of cloth. He explores the space between the human body and the fabric that covers it. He strikes a consistent balance between tradition and originality and craftsmanship and technology.
Miyake’s second line, PLEATS PLEASE, which was conceived in 1993, is a radical but exceedingly practical form of contemporary clothing that combines technology, functionality and beauty. The line is sold separately from Miyake’s original line.
In 2000, after 30 years at the helm, Issey Miyake announced that Naoki Takizawa, who has been with Miyake since 1989, would be taking over the reins of his master’s ready-to-wear line.
