Issey Miyake was born in Hiroshima Japan before World War II.

He studied in Tokyo and then Paris before he started working for Guy Laroche, Givenchy and then Geoffrey Beene. After gaining practical experience, he established Issey Miyake in Tokyo in 1970.

Issey Miyake's designs is an expression of the art of the designer and the wearer.

The clothes are an art form by themselves, but it is the wearer who gives it life and movement, creating another art form.

It is like a great musician playing a masterpiece.

The music exist as an art form into itself, the musician breathes life to it and an individual exquisiteness that can only be achieved by that particular person.

To go on with the music analogy, Issey Miyake could be likened to the composer, who creates the music. For the world to see its beauty, someone has to wear it, and the effect is individualized, depending on the wearer.

Mixing Japanese artform, balance and sense of movement to western ideas, Issey Miyake has created another art form that could only be called Issey Miyake, because there is nothing like it. He retired from the fashion world in 1997.

Naoki Takizawa who has been with him since 1989 took over the helm. True to his master's art form, Naoki Takizawa continues Issey Miyake's legacy. He left the house after presenting the Spring 2007 collection to launch his own label which was also going to be financed by Issey Miyake. Click here to read more about Naoki Takizawa.

Dai Fujiwara took over the creative helm of Issey Miyake in January 2007 and made his debut in Paris in February 2007 during the Fall 2007 Paris season.

Spring 2007 (Illustration by Julien Fournie)

Menswear Spring 2007 (Photo by FW)

See the Issey Miyake by Naoki Takizawa Runway Shows:

Website: www.isseymiyake.com

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