Japanese Fashion Designers: The Work and Influence of Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamotom, and Rei Kawakubo

Description

Over the past 40 years, Japanese designers have led the way in aligning fashion with art and ideology, as well as addressing identity and social politics through dress. They have demonstrated that both creative and commercial enterprise is possible in today's international fashion industry, and have refused to compromise their ideals, remaining autonomous and independent in their design, business affairs and distribution methods. The inspirational Miyake, Yamamoto and Kawakubo have gained worldwide respect and admiration and have influenced a generation of designers and artists alike. Based on twelve years of research, this book provides a richly detailed and uniquely comprehensive view of the work of these three key designers. It outlines their major contributions and the subsequent impact that their work has had upon the next generation of fashion and textile designers around the world. Designers discussed include: Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, Rei Kawakubo, Naoki Takizawa, Dai Fujiwara, Junya Watanabe, Tao Kurihara, Jun Takahashi, Yoshiki Hishinuma, Junichi Arai, Reiko Sudo & the Nuno Corporation, Makiko Minagawa, Hiroshi Matsushita, Martin Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester, Dries Van Noten, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dirk Bikkembergs, Alexander McQueen, Hussein Chalayan and Helmut Lang.

Bonnie English was, until her death in 2013, Associate Professor in Art History & Theory at the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.

A comprehensive synthesis of the works and careers of the three Japanese designers who revolutionized the Western fashion world... This is a must read for anyone interested in Japanese fashion. * Yuniya Kawamura, Associate Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology/State University of New York * I learned a great deal from Japanese Fashion Designers ... [the book is] well researched with complex concepts broken down, and it would certainly be a helpful reference book for anyone remotely interested in Japanese fashion and/or textile technology. * Worn Through * Bonnie English here condenses twelve years of research into a book which examines the emergence of the three leading Japanese fashion designers, Issey Miyake (b. 1938), Yohji Yamamoto (b. 1943) and Rei Kawakubo (b.1942), in the last quarter of the twentieth century... The text is very accessible and illustrated throughout with photographs of the clothes being discussed... Twelve years to write a book testifies to Bonnie English's dedication and encourages reader confidence. -- Daniel Milford-Cottam, Victoria and Albert Museum, London * Costume *