Issey Miyake
Historic Designer Research Paper
Issey Miyake
Modernly recognized as one of the greatest historical and contemporary fashion artists and designers to establish their very own unique and creative method of direct collaboration between artists and manufacturers; Issey Miyake thrives off of traditional artistic methods and their revival in direct response to the demand of times. The Japanese born artist has made a huge global impact within the fashion industry, while continuing to adapt contemporary, innovative, and industrial apparel designs, artistic exhibitions, and fragrances (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.).
First let us explore the background of the artist and how Miyake’s historical past has played impact on his present and quite possibly his future within the artistic world. Issey Miyake was born on the 22nd of April in the year of 1938, Hiroshima, Japan. At birth, he was given the name Miyake Kazumaru, while later changing it for media purposes (Issey Miyake, n.d.). The popular Japanese fashion designer was raised in his hometown of Hiroshima, Japan, only to witness his family’s home destroyed while the conflicts of World War II brought Allied bombing to the large city on Honshu Island in 1945. The young artist luckily survived the massive impact that the Americans brought, as he continued to be schooled as his school and entire city was rebuilt gradually after the war (Issey Miyake Success Story, 2013).
Upon the artist’s graduation from middle school, he went on to study Graphic Designing (Major) at the University of Tama Art, in Tokyo, from 1959 to 1963, and alongside working and studying at École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne in 1965 (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.). Following his education in Tokyo, Miyake left his homeland of Japan to study abroad. The young artist had a particular knack for technology-driven elements incorporated within the creative process of his early design work (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.). Miyake began his young career working as a design assistant at Guy Laroche, in Paris, France, from 1966-68. He later went on to assist in design at Givenchy Studios from 1968-69 whilst working alongside accomplished fashion designer Geoffrey Beene in the City of New York, 1969-70 (Issey Miyake, Fashion Designer, 2014).
The young artist’s career took a successful turn in the year of 1970, where Miyake established his very own Design Studio back in Tokyo where he worked as a theater and women’s clothing designer. This is where Miyake “produced high-end, sophisticated and extraordinary fashion for women” (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.). From this, his fashion line claimed exhibition opportunities in the Paris collections of the 1970’s and in various areas across the globe in the United States of America (Issey Miyake, Fashion Designer, 2014). One of Miyake’s works was featured in Vogue Magazine and exhibition as well as New York City’s Bloomindales. “His talents were acknowledged so much so that the magazine published his work and the store assigned him a mini-shop within its terrain (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.). This was to be the artist’s very first studio in the United States.
The Issey Miyake boutique opened in the year 1980 and went on to sell products on an international level for eight consecutive years. In the late 80’s and early 90’s Miyake began to experiment with new and fresh methods and ideas like the famous stitching technique in which is recognized as “pleating” (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.). Through this creative artistic discovery, Miyake began to create various alternations of pleating “pleats” that would “increase the flexibility in movement for the people who wore his outfits” (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.). Such implementations of Miyake’s successful and outstanding career has made possible to this very day organizations such a; Issey Miyake International, Issey Miyake Europe, Issey Miyake and Associates, Issey Miyake On Limits, and Issey Miyake USA: lines include Plantation, Issey Sport, A-POC, Pleats Please, Miyake fragrances include L'Eau d'Issey pour Homme, L'Eau d'Issey, and Le Feu d'Issey (Martin, R. D., 2005).
Now let us divert our attention to the impacts in which Miyake’s career has made in coherence to the fashion and creative arts industry. It can be firstly said that when the young designer began his career in Japan, it was his avid and innovative designs in which picked up a large amount of praise and interest within the growing Japanese fashion scene (Jewelry Accessories-Bold & Statement Designer Jewelry, 2014). More specifically, his work “cut the edge of science and fashion, combining the two into a harmonizing symphony using unconventional materials” (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.). Coming from the artist’s diverse education and creative/exhibition experiences in Asia, Europe and North America, Miyake’s style was like no one else’s at the time as it combined Eastern and Western elements all into one artistic composition (Issey Miyake, n.d.).
It was this rapid growth in which soon granted Miyake’s unique fashion line to go on producing a wide variety of items for women within and far outside of Japan. Contrary to many other fashion designers of the era, Miyake actual obtained little if not any interest in the flamboyant and generally ostentatious designs that were frequent of the European labels (Issey Miyake Success Story, 2013). Instead he preferred to see the change in fashion parallel to the changes in the world at the time. Miyake also has influenced even todays designers with his prominent vision and developmental style that looks to technology, of all things, and how it was, and is still, shaping the culture around him/us (Issey Miyake Success Story, 2013) This personal vision was crucial within the overall statement of Miyake’s work and still hold true today as he successfully continues to sell his products on a large global level. “Known as the fashion designer's only great technologist, his work is inspired by both machinery and electronics” (Issey Miyake Success Story, 2013).
When we look at Miyake’s early career boost in which his small company began to take an active role in his development in new system “pleating”. The development allowed for the women’s material garments to be produced with an exceedingly greater level of quality (Issey Miyake Success Story, 2013). Women of the historical society found this to be conveniently accessible, complimentary, trendy, and of course for a reasonable price. The designers Pleats went on to be recognized and withstanding today as one of the “key developments in fashion throughout the late 1980s and 1990s (Issey Miyake Success Story, 2013). Pleats Please, which “allows unrestricted body movement while enabling the fabric to maintain its form” (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2015); the designer has said it himself that his intention for the development of pleats was to ultimately invent a fashionable product that could indeed be produced easily, while appearing and feeling comfortable on the customers as well. A famous example of this pleated work can be observed in his piece called “The Loss of Small Details”, a costume which was created for Ballett Frankfurt (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.).
“ISSEY MIYAKE : East Meets West” an exhibition and publication which was published in the year 1978, was the “first monograph of a living fashion designer to be published in the world” (The Concepts and Work of Issey Miyake, 2009). This influence had a massive impact not only on his contemporary style and unique creativity within his designs (at the time), but also a huge factor towards the overall cultural, social, and economic reaction which inspired influence upon Miyake`s current/contemporary or even future fashion; historically speaking (The Concepts and Work of Issey Miyake, 2009) Therefore, it is indeed prevalent that his work has made a massive impact on the multitude of global cultures, styles, perspectives, and dynamics. It was said that upon this publication of 1978, many designers and artists from around the world who had become severely influenced by the young Japanese man’s work, began exploring ways in which their own work could derive elements and inclusions of designers work (The Concepts and Work of Issey Miyake, 2009). Miyake always had a strong fascination for the mix of cultural elements, and this was exceedingly influential within his own designs; furthermore he took great pride in attempting to adapt new products to the needs of a contemporary lifestyle (The Concepts and Work of Issey Miyake, 2009).
Ultimately it can be stated that after careful consideration; Issey Miyake’s principal belief for creating and designing clothes for several decades has always stemmed from the idea of creating a garment from “one piece of cloth, and the exploration of the space between the human body and the cloth that covers it”. More so it was this idea that allowed the artist to surface probably his most successful designs in his entire career. “A-POC was not only able to create clothing with a high degree of variation, but was also able to control the amount created through the process of casting, where each thread receives computerized instructions” (The Concepts and Work of Issey Miyake, 2009) So revolutionary at the time that it literally began with a single thread and soon after resulting in complete texture, fabric and a fully comprised and completed set of clothing, all by means of one single process (The Concepts and Work of Issey Miyake, 2009). This invention led to greater more revolutionary concepts and thought within engineering design, by means of fresh methodology within the fashion industry and clothing design. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City obtained this project as one of its permanent collections in the year 2006 (The Concepts and Work of Issey Miyake, 2009).
Miyake has always been recognized to approach his designs with a striking and consistent balance between innovation and tradition, new technology, and handcrafts (Issey Miyake, Fashion Designer, 2014). It was in 1998 that Miyake embarked on his first project in which strictly focused on his vision of a piece of cloth, alongside a team of young designers and co-designer Dai Fujiwara. It was here where the Japanese artist challenged the way in which clothing was made by using a new process that harnessed industrial knitting to computer technology or (weaving machines to create clothing beginning with a single piece of thread) (Issey Miyake, Fashion Designer, 2014). Miyake established the Miyake Issey Foundation with the authorization of the Ministry of Education and Science, in February of 2004 (Issey Miyake, Fashion Designer, 2014).
One of Miyake`s particular and unique creations during his career incorporated ceramic and porcelain buttons which were specially prepared by his good friend and pottery artist of Austrian descent, Dame Lucie Rie (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.). Lucie Rie has maintained a long-lasting relationship with Miyake and it was during this collection period where she provided him with many pieces that he immediately self-integrated into his own works of art. Miyake also had a very good friendship with Steve Jobs from Apple Inc., where in collaboration they produced black turtlenecks which became a “standardized and signature attire worn by Jobs” (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.). It was only in 2012, where Miyake was inducted among Japans list of co-directors within the National Museum of Design. Alongside these four other designers, Issey Miyake appears as head of the center of the organization recognized globally as The Miyake Issey Foundation (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.).
Another important and historical collaboration was when Miyake created a collection alongside Japanese designers Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo. It was this partnership that presented a mix of both of their avant-garde creative style collaborates with Miyake’s “fresh, boldly coloured work during the Paris ready-to-wear collections” (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2015). It is also important to postulate Miyake’s very successful collaboration and affluence within the fragrance industry. It can be stated that all of the designers perfumes are manufactured under a specific terms agreement with Shiseido‘s Beauté Prestige International sector, “working for the industry's biggest names in cities like Paris and New York” (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.).
His debut fragrance was entitled L’eau d’Issey`, for females with a light floral-aquatic scent, influenced by the Eiffel Tower and a view of the moon from his apartment when he lived in Paris. This fragrance was followed by L’eau d’Issey Pour Homme, six years later. Then in 2006, he produced L’eau Bleue d’Issey Eau, Drop on a Petal in 2007, and finally Reflections in a Drop in 2008 (Martin, R. D., 2005). After all the young artist was a very well recognized hard worker and assistant to many of historical fashions biggest icons in both Europe and the United states, let alone his homeland in Japan. The designer worked somewhat as an introspective outsider, relatively learning the necessary skills of the trade at his very own successive pace (Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography, n.d.). It was this strong and fast paced work ethic and strividity for success, that played a very large role in the designers overall success.
Now let us look at some of the major accomplishments in which Issey Miyake has obtained during his long career as a fashion designer and collaborative graphic artist. He has won several awards for his work including; Order of Culture, 2010, Praemium Imperiale, 2005; (he was the first designer of fashion in 2006 to be awarded) The Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy for Lifetime Achievement; given on behalf of The Japanese Inamori Foundation further including a diploma, 50 million yen, and a 20-karat-gold medal, 1986 induction cover of America’s Time Magazine (January 27th issue), Plaque Award and ceremony for induction; Most Influential Asians of the 20th Century” (August 23-30 issue), as the list goes on and on (The Concepts and Work of Issey Miyake, 2009).
On a personal level, in regards to my very own opinion towards the artist’s work, accomplishments and overall impact, I can firstly say that I am a true and avid supporter of the designers work. I believe that his reputation and work ethic as an artist and creative individual is truly unquestionable when it comes to critics. Many believe that Miyake is even more famous among younger generations today, due to his long-lasting friendships to other fashion icons and significant individuals involved within the field. In response, I say that if the man’s direct reputation has never been a negative one amongst his friends and strangers alike, then why not respect the individual; let alone the major impact he has had on the creative industry.
Likewise, I believe that the Japanese artist should be recognized as a figure of inspiration towards personal success, formal creativity, artistic honesty and a voice for all young aspiring artists and professionals in the world, trying to be the next generation of artisitc evolution. It is individuals such as Miyake that make a difference in the world and are not afraid to show it. Miyake’s concepts and famous works of transcend genres continue to draw major attention around the globe (The Concepts and Work of Issey Miyake, 2009). He is inspiring society to pursue their personal dreams, create things that hold unique brilliance, and to always make new realities for oneself (Issey Miyake Success Story, 2013). Issey Miyake still continues to follow these principals to this very day and at the age of 77; he is still successfully devoted to creating advanced designs for the 21st century.
References:
Issey Miyake | Fashion Designer Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.famousfashiondesigners.org/issey-miyake
Issey Miyake. (n.d.). Retrieved April 15, 2016,
Issey Miyake, Fashion Designer. (2014). Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://fashion.infomat.com/issey-miyake-designer.html
Issey Miyake Success Story. (2013). Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://successstory.com/people/miyake-kazumaru-issey-miyake
Jewelry Accessories-Bold & Statement Designer Jewelry. (2014). Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.blog.jewelryaccessories.com/fashion-designers/432-issey-miyake.html
Martin, R. D., "Miyake, Issey." Encyclopedia of World Biography. 2005, & "Miyake, Issey." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2016. (2002). Miyake, Issey. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Issey_Miyake.aspx
The Concepts and Work of Issey Miyake. (2009). Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://mds.isseymiyake.com/im/en/work/
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2015). Issey Miyake. Retrieved April 15, 2016, from http://www.britannica.com/biography/Issey-Miyake
