The document provides an overview of the career and work of fashion designer Issey Miyake. It summarizes his early training and influences, key collections he produced from the 1970s onward, and experimental fabric techniques he pioneered like pleating, twisting, and shrinking fabrics. References are provided for publications where images and details about Miyake's work can be found. The last line quotes Miyake saying his work aims to capture the "beauty of life" with a touch of daring humor.

1. I s s e y M i y a k e —T h e b e a u t y
o f lif e

2. I s s e y M iy a k e —T h e
b e a u t y Issey Miyakeif e in 1938.
o f l was born
He trained as a graphic designer
in Tokyo and subsequently
went to Paris, where he studied
couture. In New York he
learned about ready-to-wear
and showed his first collection
in 1971.
Since 1973, he’s presented his
own collections around the
world.
Issey Miyake was raised in
Hiroshima after World War II.
He was exposed to the horrors
of was and ideals of national
regeneration.

3. I s s e y M i y a k e —T h e b e a u t y o f
lif e
Miyake’s early works were strongly influenced by Japanese tradition.
Source: Issey Miyake & Miyake Design Studio 1970-1985 (in Japanese)

4. I s s e y M i y a k e —T h e b e a u t y
o f lif e
A Piece of Cloth (1976)
‘The cut of a Western
garment is determined
by the body, Japanese
one by the fabric.’
-- by Issey Miyake
‘Issey Miyake has taught us
this essential truth: that
clothing is made of a
single piece of cloth
enveloping a moving
body.’—by Arata Isozaki
Source: Issey Miyake
Making Things (p33)

5. I s s e y M i y a k e —T h e b e a u t y o f
lif e
Plastic Body (1980)
Miyake bustiers have
become a fashion
milestone.
Source : Fashion (big
photo)
12 Japanese masters

6. Is s e y
M iy a k e —
The b e a u ty
o f lif e
Rattan Body (1982)
Purely futuristic rattan bodices
reminiscent of samurai armor.
Source: 12 Japanese Masters

7. Is s e y
M iy a k e —
The b e a u ty
o f lif e
A creation which reveals its
beauty not by
accentuating the body
but by the movement of
the fabric: Issey Miyake
1983
Source: Fashion

8. I s s e y M i y a k e —T h e b e a u t y o f
lif e
The Pleats was the principal
element of the Issey Miyake
collection of 1988. It was not
until 1993 that the Pleats
Please Issey Miyake line of
practical, comfortable, playful
clothes was launched
commercially.
Dancers from the Frankfurt
Ballet in Pleats, 1991
Source: Issey Miyake Making
Things (p24-25)

9. I s s e y M i y a k e —T h e b e a u t y o f
lif e
Miyake’s featherlight, machine washable, non-crease polyester ‘Pleats
Please’ line, introduced in 1993, was an instant success and proved
to ideal for traveling.
Source : 20th Century
Fashion (p255)
Spring/Summer 1994

10. Is s e y M iy a k e —
The b e a u ty o f
lif e
Lantern procession: every
movement brings
delicate animation to
these cleverly pleated
dresses from Issey’s
Flying saucer collection
of 1992, so reminiscent
of childhood lanterns.
Source : Fashion The
Century of the
Designer 1900-1999

11. Is s e y M iy a k e Bouncing dress
Spring/summer collection 1994
—T h e b e a u t y
o f lif e
Shell(1994)
Source: 12 Japanese
Masters

12. Is s e y
M iy a k e —
The b e a u ty
o f lif e
Guest artist series 1996
Work with Yasumasa
Morimura
Source: Fashion

13. I s s e y M i y a k e —T h e b e a u t y
o f lif e
Textiles by Makiko Minagawa
1984 and 1987
Source : Issey Miyake
Making Things (p44)

14. Is s e y
M iy a k e —
The b e a u ty
o f lif e
A new development
Miyake took motifs from the
arts, then his creation
became artworks
themselves.
Source: Fashion

15. Is s e y
M i y a k e —T h e
b e a u ty o f
lif e
• Green Queen
A-POC 1999
Source: Radical Fashion
(p117)

16. I s s e y M i y a k e —T h e b e a u t y o f
lif e
‘Just before’ and ‘A-POC King & Queen’ Issey Miyake making things.(2000)
Source : Radical Fashion (p114-115)

17. Is s e y
M iy a k e —
Th e b e a u ty
o f lif e
A-POC One Piece (2001)
Source: Radical Fashion (p113)

18. Is s e y M iy a k e
—T h e b e a u t y
o f lif e
Pleats Please promotional
images(2000-2001)
Source: 12 Japanese Masters

19. Is s e y
M iy a k e —
The b e a u ty
o f lif e
Torrents (crushing technique),
autumn/winter collection
1992
Source : Issey Miyake Making
Things

20. I s s e y M i y a k e —T h e b e a u t y o f
lif e
Papier de Bonbon
(crumpling and press
technique),
spring/summer
collection 1992
Source : Issey Miyake Making
Things

21. I s s e y M i y a k e —T h e b e a u t y o f
lif e
Dunes (Shrinking technique), spring/summer collection 1998
Source : Issey Miyake Making Things

22. Is s e y
M iy a k e —
The b e a u ty
o f lif e
Twist (twisting
technique),
spring/summer
collection 1992
Source : Issey Miyake Making
Things

23. Is s e y M iy a k e
—T h e b e a u t y
o f lif e
• Tubed veil (partial
shrinking technique),
spring/summer collection
Source : Issey Miyake Making Things

24. Is s e y
M i y a k e —T h e
b e a u ty o f
lif e
Just before (clothes
produced from a tube of
knit), spring/summer
collection 1998
Source : Issey Miyake Making
Things

25. I s s e y M i y a k e —T h e b e a u t y o f
lif e
Starburst (pressing technique), autumn/winter collection 1998
Source : Issey Miyake Making Things

26. I s s e y M i y a k e —T h e b e a u t y
Reference: o f lif e
Herve,Chandes. (editor) (1999). Issey Miyake Making Things, Zurich-Berlin-
New York: Fondation Cartier pour I’art Contempotain.
Issey Miyake & Miyake Design Studio 1970-1985 (in Japanese)
Saiki, Maggie Kinser. (2002). 12 Japanese Masters, New York: Graphis Inc.
Wilcox, Claire. (2001). Radical Fashion. London : V&A Publics.
Seeling, Charlotte. 1999: Fashion - The Century of the designer 1900-1999.
Spain: Könemann Verlagsgesellschaft mbH.
Mendes, Valerie .1999: 20th Century Fashion. London: Thames & Hudson
P255

27. I s s e y M i y a k e —T h e b e a u t y o f
lif e
Y ou have to put life into your work. T he
‘beauty of life’, which is most appropriate.
A ssociated with a slightly daring sort of
humor!
by I ssey M iyake