Arts and Philosophy Category

Prize Field: Art (Painting, Sculpture, Craft, Architecture, Design

Mr. Issey Miyake
Born: April 22, 1938 (Age 68)
Nationality: Japan
Occupation: Designer

Began making clothing in 1962 as a student at Tama Art University, Tokyo, and presented his first collection in 1963. Started studying and working at Guy Laroche and Givenchy in Paris in 1965. Established Miyake Design Studio in 1970. While actively working out of Paris and New York, sought to incorporate traditional Japanese aesthetics into his clothing designs. Since the late 1980s, has presented "PLEATS PLEASE" and "A-POC," two unique apparel designs based on the concept of wrapping "a piece of cloth" around the body, which is the origin of clothing. These series brought innovative changes to the idea of clothing itself.

A designer who uses innovative technology to create clothing from the fundamental concept of "a piece of cloth," and who consistently creates garments that can be incorporated into people's lives, cutting across both time and national boundaries.

Mr. Issey Miyake, with his originality, recaptured the relationship between the flat geometry of fabrics and the three-dimensional human body, and created the epoch-making concept of "a piece of cloth," rooted in Japanese culture. With this concept in mind, and by developing and applying cutting-edge technology to his designs, he creates clothing that can be a real part of people's lives, cutting across time, national borders, and classes.

"Clothing belongs to design and innovation, while fashion is nothing but creativity subjugated to the top priorities of business," says Mr. Miyake. He has been seeking to create new clothing incorporating traditional Japanese aesthetics into his designs, while taking technology and the clothing customs of other cultures into consideration.

In the early 1970s, Mr. Miyake came up with the concept "a piece of cloth," which can be said to be the basis of making clothes, transcending both time and national boundaries. This concept eventually bore fruit in his outstanding series of works, "PLEATS PLEASE" and "A-POC."

"PLEATS PLEASE," presented in 1993, is an innovative series, using exceptionally light polyester materials which are pleated through an unusual technique. While still maintaining their form, these clothes don't restrict body movement, and they can be both formal and casual. They are also easy to carry as they retain their shape even after repeated folding. This series includes a wide lineup, from pants to dresses to blouses to coats, and are loved by people around the world.

"A-POC," a popular series since 1998, is strikingly original. Using a unique forming technique that does not require sewing, the garments are instead created by cutting fabric into the shape of clothes. By developing a system and materials that facilitate mass production, Mr. Miyake has brought into reality a new concept of clothing for everyone; presented an ideal for clothing design; and introduced real innovation to the process of clothing production.

Mr. Miyake has also made distinguished contributions to contemporary art, through his collaboration and interaction with many artists around the world, including photographer Irving Penn, ceramicist Lucie Rie, sculptor Isamu Noguchi, architect Tadao Ando, designer Ron Arad, and artist Yayoi Kusama. Of particular note are the costumes Mr. Miyake designed for Maurice Béjart's ballet and for the Ballet Frankfurt led by William Forsythe. His costumes were highly regarded for their innovative designs that fully integrated with the dancers' body movements while maintaining their own unique beauty. Between 1998 and 2000, he held a personal exhibition, titled "Issey Miyake Making Things," at the Foundation Cartier, Paris; Ace Gallery, New York; and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo. He also participated in such exhibitions as "Energies," at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, in 1990; and "Big Bang," at the Pompidou Centre, Paris, in 2005. His designs have been introduced around the world as an art form that characterizes the late 20th century.