For almost 5 decades, Issey Miyake has been pioneering the concept of modern Japanese heritage in fashion. As a survivor of post World War II trauma, Issey Miyake was born into the destruction of his country and participated in its rise and redemption. After his studies, Miyake would travel to Paris then New York to accumulate experiences and ideas to build his fashion empire. His Western travels would land him back in Tokyo, where he established his namesake brand that would ultimately revolutionize Japanese fashion and global fashion as a whole. Miyake has spent the past 5 decades reinforcing his design motifs: texture, shape, fabric, proportions, and technology. He blends these motifs with his equilibrium balance of Eastern and Western heritage. Miyake often references his Western experiences but never forgets his Eastern roots, creating a different world for his garments to exist in.

The commercial success of Issey Miyake has never tampered with the design foundations of the legacy brand. His groundbreaking Pleats collection, first introduced in 1989, are still fashion essentials for every woman's and men’s wardrobe every season in the 21st century. Miyake’s fascination with industrial processes and manufacturing has influenced his designs and their futuristic technological elements. His collections not only look phenomenal, they also serve technical purposes for the individual and their style. The way each fabric and material lays on the body and stack on each other is intentional and purposeful, as if Miyake is designing for the future. That explains why Issey Miyake is such a pioneer of modern day fashion. His curiosity is never satisfied.

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Writer: Art V.