Issey Miyake, the famed Japanese designer known for his use of pleats and future-thinking design, has passed away at the age of 84.
Issey Miyake, the Japanese designer known for his future-thinking design, died earlier this month after a bout of cancer at the age of 84, though his passing was only publicly announced this morning., a small funeral service has already taken place, and, per his wishes, no memorial service will be held.
Miyake was not so much concerned with fantasies in his designs as he was possibilities. After originally studying graphic design, Miyake pursued fashion with an emphasis on both fabrics and how his clothing would actually integrate itself into everyday life. His trademark pleats best exemplified this: the accordion-like folds in the fabric were treated to maintain their shape producing clothes that were easy to wear and care for, and yet looked special and complicated.
Miyake’s passing will likely not have an immediate effect on the creative direction on the company he built. The man himself had claimed he retired from fashion in 1997, and the numerous fashion lines under his umbrella have been run by staff ever since.