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Issey Miyake
From Virtual Japan
Issey Miyake (三宅 一生 Miyake Issei?, b. 22 April 1938) is a Japanese fashion designer. Also a line of clothing of the same name from the designer that is well known for technology inspired clothing and displays, Issey Misake is one of the first clothing brands to become Internationally renowned from Japan. Born 22 April, 1938, Issey Miyake originally studied graphic design at the Tama Art University in Tokyo, Japan, graduating in 1964 before working in both Paris and New York. Upon returning to Tokyo in 1970, he founded the origin of his current fashion line – Miyake Design Studio.
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History
Issey Miyake’s first brand collection was launched in 1971, later incorporating as Issey Miyake Inc. The design studio later participated in the Paris Collection under the name “Issey Misake” in 1973 and in March of 1974 opened its first retail location in the Puzzle Aoyama building in Tokyo, Japan. The first overseas Issey Miyake shop was opened in 1975 in Paris, France on Place du Marche Saint-Honore. The brand would continue to grow throughout the 1970s with the advent of Issey Miyake Men in 1978 spreading the designer into new markets. The United States branch of Issey Miyake was established in 1982 as Issey Miyake U.S.A. Corp in New York and the United Kingdom branch of Issey Miyake was established in 1983 under the name Issey Miyake U.K. LTD in London.
In the late 1980s, Issey Miyake began to experiment with pleating to develop more flexibility in movement. His development of Garment Pleating was represented in the 1993 collection “Pleats Please”. The process used involved cutting and sewing the garments first and then placing them between layers of paper to be fed through a heated press for pleating.
In 1994, the operation of Issey Miyake Men was turned over to Naoki Takizawa and in 1999, the women’s collection followed as Issey Miyake focused more intently on research. Today, the House of Issey Miyake is run by Dai Fujiwara, recently having replaced Naoki Takizawa in 2007.
Inspiration
Issey Miyake’s style is best known for its blend of flowing fabrics and designs of Eastern style with the technology and modern sensibilities of Western style. Using a wide array of both natural and synthetic materials, Miyake likes to be seen as an artist rather than a designer, developing new ways to utilize both function and form in his designs. In addition to his Pleats Please line, Miyake is known for his development of A-POC (A Piece of Cloth) – a single piece of ready to wear clothing – various perfume, home furnishing, and hosiery products.
Brands
Issey Miyake Women Issey Miyake Men Issey Miyake Fete Pleats Please Issey Miyake HaaT me IsseyMiyakie/Cauliflower
Shop Locations
Issey Miyake is a global brand with dozens of shop locations encompassing each brand around the world. Issey Miyake products are available through retail channels and online.
Celebrity Interest
Celebrity interest in Issey Miyake brand clothing has been prolific with rappers such as Jay-Z, Twista, and Gorilla Zoe all mentioning the line in their song lyrics. Additionally, the brand name has appeared in music by Pet Shop Boys, on television series such as HBO’s Entourage, and in the Bourne Ultimatum (though the sweater worn by Jason Bourne in the film is inside out).