May 1, 2002/ FWD/ --- Issey Miyake rarely does one thing at a time. Like his inconceivably pleated designs, he is as much about flow as he is about structure.

So when he opened the Frank Gehry-designed doors to his Tribeca flagship October 2001, Miyake was also opening the doors to what he hoped would be downtown Manhattan's newest nexus of art and culture.

Conceived of as both a showroom and a showcase for talents from all artistic arenas, the flagship is now preparing to host its third special guest: Giovanni Pagnotta.

The Italian born designer and his "Prototype" furniture collection hit the Miyake space on May 16th.

And like his host, Pagnotta is a master of mixed messages: the sleek, simple and ultra thin lines of his furniture are made of the same stuff as stealth bombers.

"Prototype" is made entirely with carbon fiber, a material usually reserved for militaristic ends but that is also light as air.

The fact that the material is bulletproof and radar invisible could make the starting price of $10,000 a little easier to bear - unless you live in an underground bunker, in which case the pieces are a must at any price.

Or, as an Issey Miyake spokesperson told FWD: "The furniture line is for wealthy hard hitters with impeccable taste. It is very sexy, exclusive and cutting edge."

While the durable furniture is unveiled, equally dynamic dancers from the Francesca Harper project who "mimic the graceful fine lines, the engineering of the furniture pieces," according to the spokesperson, will put on an original performance.

As are all things in Miyake's world, the night promises to be a fully collaborative, somewhere left of center event.

Issey Miyake by Naoki Takizawa

Issey Miyake by Naoki Takizawa