YOHJI YAMAMOTO
One of Japan’s best known fashion brands
Yohji Yamamoto (山本耀司, 1943) was born in Tokyo and studied law before entering Bunka Fukusou Gakuin.
Yamamoto’s designs often differ greatly from current trends. This was especially true in his early years, when his designs were oversized, de-structured and in a single color, especially black. Over the years, many of his designs have become more practical and his silhouette more structured.
Yamamoto’s influence on the world’s fashion world can not be underestimated. During the 1980’s, Yamamoto was actually seen as part of the Japanese trio that completely redefined fashion, the other two being Rei Kawakubo and Issey Miyake.
Y’s, Yamamoto’s first line, was created in 1972 and he did his first show in Tokyo in 1977. Y’s for men started in 1979. The first Yohji Yamamoto collection was shown in 1981 in Paris. Yohji Yamamoto pour Homme followed in 1984, the same year that YOHJI YAMAMOTO INC. was founded. Yohji Yamamoto + Noir was launched in 1995.
In 2002, Yamamoto presented his Haute couture collection in Paris and he formed a relationship with exclusive Parisian boutiques. 2003 saw the opening of the Y’s line flagship store in Roppongi Hills as well as the launch of Y-3, Yamamoto’s successful partnership with Adidas. In 2006, his collaboration with Italian luggage specialist Mandarina Duck was started under the label Y’s Mandarina.
Besides designing his iconic fashion, Yamamoto has also done costume design for Takeshi Kitano (Brother, Dolls, Zatoichi), Wim Wenders, Ryuichi Sakamoto, the Pina Bausch Company and Wagner’s Opera “Tristan and Isolde” in Bayreuth.
Yamamoto has won a large number of prestigious awards.
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