Yohji Yamamoto
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Yōji Yamamoto（山本 耀司、Yamamoto Yōji, born 3 October 1943） is an internationally known Japanese fashion designer based out of Paris.
He expresses his philosophy and avant-garde spirit in his clothing, frequently creating designs far removed from current trends. Basically, he makes a line characterized by oversized silhouettes; it typically features drapes (loose gathers and tatters) in glossy textures that naturally change with the figure's contours and movement. Often, a single color (particularly black) and a single shade are used. One could say that Youji Yamamoto tries to express himself through his clothing; customers who sympathize with those thoughts and spirit are charmed and become ardent fans.
The charismatic designer's brand, which received high praise both domestically and abroad during the 1980s, side by side with the likes of Rei Kawakubo's Comme des Garçons and Issey Miyake's Issei Miyake, formed the 'DC brand boom'. (DC is short for Designers & Characters. It is now called Designers' Brands.)
He currently serves as Takeshi Kitano's costume designer for the likes of Brother, Dolls and Zatoichi.
He also has been credited as Placebo's provider with the Adidas line, noticeably during the Soulmates Never Die (Live in Paris 2003) Tour shows.
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[edit] Career
Yohji Yamamoto was born in Tokyo. After graduating from Keio University with a degree in law in 1966, he entered Bunka Fashion College, from which he graduated in 1969.
- 1972 Y's joint stock corporation founded.
- 1977 Tokyo collection debut.
- 1981 Pret a porter collection debut in Paris. Yohji Yamamoto line started at the same time.
- 1984 Yohji Yamamoto joint stock corporation founded.
- 2002 Haute couture collection presented in Paris. Relationship formed with exclusive Parisian boutiques.
- 2003 Opening of the Y's line flagship store in Roppongi Hills.
- 2003 Y-3 line and collection debut.
[edit] Principal lines
- Yohji Yamamoto
- Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME
- Yohji Yamamoto + NOIR
- Y's
- Y's for men
- Y-3
- Y's for living
Yohji Yamamoto is the so-called collection line (and, indeed, the other lines form a part of it); it could be said to be the purest form of the designer's expression.
Y's for living is a household goods brand, but it does not have any direct connection to either Yohji Yamamoto or the Yohji Yamamoto joint stock corporation.
[edit] Filmography
- Notebook on Cities and Clothes (1989) by Wim Wenders
[edit] External links
- Official page
- Official page: Y-3
- Official page: Y's for living
- Yohji Yamamoto at the Internet Movie Database
- Pattern by Yohji Yamamoto
[edit] References
Much of the content of this article comes from the equivalent Japanese-language wikipedia article (retrieved December 1, 2005).
