Japanese Fashion Pt. 2 >>> Issey Miyake

Hello! Me again - who else would it be anyhow? I hope you have all had a wonderful week and a lovely day. I made the most my day, spending all morning at my Drama Club, then all afternoon in Town, where my Maman eventually purchased a gorgeous coat from 'British Heart Foundation' for me. *Smiley Face* Update on the top ten countries: Italy has been knocked out of the top ten to be replaced by Germany.

On to today's post. I am continuing my exploration of Japanese Fashion with Issey Miyake though, admittedly, some of the designs will not be his. From 1999 to 2007, Naoki Takizawa was creative director and (since he opened his own brand) Dai Fujiwara.

Issey Miyake

• Born on 22 April 1938 in Hiroshima. As a seven year-old, witnessing and surviving the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945.
• Studied graphic design at the Tam Art University in Tokyo, graduating in 1964. After graduation, he worked in Paris and New York. Returning to Tokyo in 1970, he founded the Miyake Design Studio, a high-end producer of women's fashion.
• In the late 80s, he experimented with new methods of pleating. This resulted in the creation of a new technique called 'garment pleating'
• 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.

The Following are different Issey Miyake lines:

• Issey Miyake - Main collection line, subdivided into men (since 1978/85) and women (since 1971)
• Issey Miyake Fête - Colourful women's line that "draws on the technological innovations of Pleats Please" (since 2004)
• Pleats Please Issey Miyake - Polyester jersey garments for women that are first "cut and sewn and then pleated - normally, fabric is first pleated and then cut and sewn (since 1989/93)
• HaaT - Women's line, designed by Miyake's former textile designer, Makiko Minagawa. (since 2000).
• A-POC - Custom-collection for men and women. Tubes of fabric are machine-processed and can be cut into various shapes by the consumer. (since 1997)
• me Issey Miyake - Line of "exclusive one-sized shirts that stretch to fit the wearer" (since 2001)
• Issey Miyake Watches - Men's and women's watches.
• Issey Miyake Parfums - Line of fragrances for men and women.
• Evian by Issey Miyake - Limited edition bottle designed by Issey Miyake for Evian water.
• 21-21 Design Sight (a play on 20/20 vision)
• The Miyake Issey Foundation

Here is my analysis of the latest collection: Issey Miyake Spring 2012, and the first collection for Yoshiyuki Miyamae.
It was beautiful, detailing the life of a flower as a metaphor for the life of a woman, done in an enchanting way.
Naturally, the head-dresses gave a great deal in helping guess the theme in question, to the point that even the dense would have had a problem not recognising the core inspiration.

On the other hand, there were a great many more subtle references. "The fagoting on seams, representing the veins on a leaf." or the slits on clothes symbolising a bud bursting.

 Bud, stem, petal, blossom, bloom... these were the key stages represented and, when I chose my top ten looks from the collection, I did remember to choose a variety rather than (for example) nine nude ones and one purple.

As the collection progresses, the delightful materials seemingly floating down the catwalk, the colours got brighter, radiating into yellow. This continued, cooling into ice blues then finally burning into an infusion of purples, vibrant oranges and pinks then chocolate browns.

The looks went from breezy and lady-like to chic, sporty looks with tight leggings, glazed over with bright, and tribal, patters. The hats always very origami-esque... as are a great many Issey Miyake Designs.

I realise that if you have just been reading this, and looking at the pictures I have used, you may get the impression that Issey Miyake is always very colourful. Although it is true that his designs are often a lot more vibrant than other japanese designers, he does do a lot of black and white shades too. In fact, his 2011 Autumn/Winter Collection was entirely monochrome.

Anywho, thank you for reading. Please comment, and tell me which of the Issey Miyake looks is your favourite. I would be interested to know. Remember to check back regularly and, if you are from Italy, tell your friends to take a look and you might be able to knock Germany back out of the top ten - who knows? :)