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Japanese Designers |
Keeping the kimono aside, Japanese women began to emulate western fashion by the 1930s. During the 1970s and 80's foreign brands dominated the Japanese street fashion. But during the late 80s and 90s, the dresses were created from a mix of both local Japanese and foreign brands. In recent years, several Japanese designers have come to the forefront of international fashion scene.
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Takada Kenzo
Takada Kenzo was one of the first male students to join Tokyo's Bunka Fashion College. Takada moved to Paris in 1965 when the French Haute Couture was restricted to foreigners. After several hardships, he was able to work as a freelance designer and opened his first boutique 'Jungle Jap' in 1970. The same year, he had his debut show, which was well received and established him as a revolutionary designer.
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He was one of the first designers to fuse Oriental with Occidental fashion and in the process globalized the look. Kenzo's creations were a communion between cultures that made the clothes look fresh, seductive - with just the right touch of fantasy. Since 1993, his business has been part of the luxury-goods empire; LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Group and in 1999 he showed his final collection in Paris. Kenzo's collections include menswear, womenswear, fashion accessories, fragrances and skincare products.
Yohji Yamamoto
A former law student, who later studied fashion at Tokyo's Bunka Fukuso Gakuin design school, Yohji Yamamoto showed his first collection in 1977 in Tokyo under the name Y's. and in 1983, he received greater recognition in Paris where he showed his spring/sumer collection. His clothes are full of allusions and he is known for his sophisticated yet plain style. His preferred set of colors are black, navy and white but occasionally he does use splashes of other colors.
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Apart from his Y line of clothing for men and women, he also designs opera costumes and ballet sets. He's the only Japanese designer to receive France's Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et Lettres. In 2003, with Adidas, he created the Y-3 label, which became one of the first and most successful of the designer-activewear. The Y-3 collection includes footwear and accessories. Yohji Yamamoto +Noir features Yamamoto's classic and timeless pieces.
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Issey Miyake
Issey Miyake is the man whose philosophy has been - Simplicity is always beautiful. Miyake is undoubtedly among the celebrated Japanese designers in the world and his menswear and womenswear are defined as slim, architecturally-inspired designs highlighted with subtle details. After graduating from the Tama Art University in Tokyo, where he studied graphic art, Miyake worked in Paris and New York but returned to Tokyo in 1970 and set up the Miyake Design Studio. He is known for constructing garments out of a single piece of fabric and invented a new technique called garment pleating. He launched Pleats Please boutiques in Tokyo, Paris, London and New York where his ready to wear collection is sold. Apart from clothing, Mikaye also has a line of accessories and fragrances. Mikaye collections are a fusion of Asian traditions with European classicism and American functionality. He has received several awards including the Neiman-Marcus Award in 1984.
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Rei Kawakubo
Having worked in a textile company, Rei Kawakubo started her career as a freelance stylist. She had no formal training in fashion designing. However in 1973, she founded Comme des Garcons Co Ltd in Tokyo where she sold women's clothing. Five years later she added a men's line. In 1980, she had the opportunity to present her collection in Paris and because of its success she opened her first boutique there.
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Rei's Comme des Garcons specializes in anti-fashion, austere, occasionally deconstructed garments, sometimes lacking a sleeve or other component. By the late 80s, Comme des Garcons operated more than 300 stores worldwide. Rei prefers to have her garments in black, dark gray, and white, often worn with combat boots. She is known to convey her ideas verbally to her patternmakers. Rei won the Mainichi Fashion Grand Prize in 1983 and in 1987 was honored by the Fashion Institute of Technology. |
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