Fashion innovator, Issey Miyake

On Friday just passed, fashion innovator, exhibitionist and designer, Issey Miyake passed away at the age of 84 due to liver cancer. Although incredibly upsetting, Not Pink dedicates this mid week post to such fashion figurine, to shine light on the works he created and the works he will inspire.

Most commonly known to the many, Miyake had found Issey Miyake Inc in the early 1970s, and since then a number of sibling concepts have been established, such as Pleats Please by Issey Miyake, 132 5. Issey Miyake and IM Men. Interestingly enough, Steve Jobs can be seen wearing a black turtleneck in many of the photos uploaded of him on Google which were in fact designed and crafted by Issey Miyake, an iconic moment captured in time. Pictures shown below.

Miyake made a name for himself when he embarked on his fashion design journey. He initially studied the art of design at the Tokyo Arts University soon before he ventured to Paris in the midst of the 1960s, where he worked for the likes of Givenchy. Exposed to the ways and workings of the fashion and design industry, Miyake then took his knowledge, stamina and ideas to New York City where, for the first time, he presented a collection in November 1971 under Miyake Design Studios, and then 2 years laters, Issey Miyake was shown in the 1973 Autumn/Winter Paris Fashion Week. Incredible.

Since then Issey Miyake became the 'prince of pleats' and a household name in haute couture fashion, his pleated garments were said to never crease or wrinkle, due to his newly innovative way of pressing and folding the pleats. Shown here are a regular fitting plisse pair of trousers designed by Issey Miyake which sell for £295.

Type-W, the most recent series brought to life by Issey Miyake, is made using uneven fabric and made to suit ones daily life operations.

Not only was clothing his field of expertise, but Issey Miyake took liking to developing fragrances also, and in 1992, L'Eau D'Issey launched, which soon inspired over a hundred other scents. L'Eau D'Issey was designed with the image of a water droplet falling on women's body and is described to be essential and timeless.

Miyake had once uttered, "clothing is the closest thing to all humans"and for that his legacy will live on. Saddened by the news of his passing but forever inspired by his story and stamina.

Not Pink x