Issey Miyake is one of the most well known Japanese designer names in history, his designs taking the world by storm from as early as the 1970s. Miyake made many outfits for ballets and dance performances and then began to use many dancers to model the clothing. The designer often studied the movements of the dancers as they were wearing his clothing as he was fascinated by the way the fabrics would swing around or hang down. This approach to clothing, combined with Japanese sensibilities, resulted in Miyake’s colossal impact in the fashion industry alongside the likes of Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garcons and Yohji Yamamoto of his eponymous label. However, despite having made such an impact many have not been able to truly grasp Miyake’s influence during these early years, until now.

The book, Issey Miyake: East Meets West, came out in 1978 and features an impressive contrast of designs influenced by both Eastern and Western cultures. East Meets West was the first ever monograph that was created about the living fashion designer, and its importance is unquestionable. With over 200 pages of full bleed color images featuring some of Issey Miyake’s colorful clothing, the book truthfully depicts the designer’s passion for design, culture, and authenticity. From editorial photos shot by the likes of Noriaki Yokosuka (as covered in our previous post), to the capturing of runway spectacles that combine movement with clothing, it goes without saying that East Meets West immerses you into the fantastic world of Issey Miyake.

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Writer: Khan