As the world continues to mourn the passing of dazzling fashion Issey Miyake, one thing is for sure: he left behind an immeasurable design legacy. Over the course of his illustrious career, he revolutionized manufacturing, introduced avant-garde Japanese style to the West, championed diversity on and off runwayaccepted color theory along with minimalism, and pushed the limits of “art is fashion”.
Few designers are responsible for disrupting the industry and rewriting the design cannon in such an impactful way as Miyake. With a background in graphic design, and training in Paris under the direction of leading experts Laroche and Givenchy, as well as Geoffrey Beene, Miyake’s unique education has largely informed his work.
It’s no wonder his design language has appealed to everyone, from twins Olsen and Solange to Kim Kardashian and Rihanna. The late design Maverick was purposefully created and always with a different point of view, which makes Issey Miyake’s outfit so appealing. Owning a Miyake work is owning a moving sculpture.
So a lot of timeless design code has incorporated Miyake and his work into the culture. There’s Issey Mikaye’s bag, Bao Bao, which is a favorite of art and street style circles, like OG blogger Susie Lau. And who can forget Steve Job’s infamous sleek black turtleneck, designed exclusively by Miyake? Yet another timeless hallmark of Miyake is the striking, minimalist product design of his eponymous perfume bottles. Miyake kept pace, always in touch with the zealot even though he was years ahead of it.
From the signature pleated maker code to his lifelong friendship and relationship with fashion icon Grace Jones, let’s take a look back at six key design elements and home moments. front architectural design.
