ISSEY MIYAKE

Japanese: 三宅一生
field: apparel
type: manufacturer
style: stylish
market: men, women

url: ISSEY MIYAKE official site

Issey Miyake was born in Hiroshima, Japan on April 22, 1938. He is known for his technology-driven clothing designs and exhibitions.

Miyake studied graphic design at the Tama Art University in Tokyo, graduating in 1964. After graduation, he worked in Paris and New York City. Returning to Tokyo in 1970, he founded the Miyake Design Studio and started showing his line at the Paris collections in 1973.

In the late 80s, he began to experiment with new methods of pleating that would allow both flexibility of movement for the wearer as well as ease of care and production. This eventually resulted in a new technique called garment pleating and in 1993’s “Pleats Please” in which the garments are cut and sewn first, then sandwiched between layers of paper and fed into a heat press, where they are pleated. The fabric’s ‘memory’ holds the pleats and when the garments are liberated from their paper cocoon, they are ready-to wear.

In 1994 and 1999, Miyake turned over the design of the men’s and women’s collections respectively, to his associate, Naoki Takizawa, so that he could return to research.

Like many fashion designers, Issey Miyake also has a line of perfumes. His first fragrance, the light aquatic-floral L’eau d’Issey for women, was launched in 1992. The scent was followed by L’eau d’Issey Pour Homme (for men) in 1994. Most recently, L’eau Bleue d’Issey Pour Homme was introduced in 2004. Issey Miyake fragrances are produced under a long-term agreement by the Beauté Prestige International division of Shiseido, which also produces fragrances for Narciso Rodriguez and Jean-Paul Gaultier.

Miyake is a strong believer in the apprentice system, which has been all but abandoned outside Japan. Like Rei Kawakubo, Miyake nurtures young talent and offers them great opportunities under the shelter of his enormous and well-funded company. Star designers like Hiroaki Ohya, Eri Utsugi and Sunao Kuwahara have all benefited enormously from this system. According to Miyake it takes eight years to set up a new brand, so having the backing of someone like Miyake or Kawakubo can make all the difference.

Miyake has stores in Tokyo, Paris, New York, and London. His New York flagship store, Tribeca IsseyMiyake was designed by Frank Gehry and is the first to carry all seven of his collections.

Last updated on 08-12-2007 18:44 (Viewed 2589 times)

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