"For my total life I am comfortable being in black, not in the light..., lightness... I was born in Tokyo, after bombed, so maybe this is my root, the ruined Tokyo. Too good harmony is boring... maybe conflict is charming, exciting. I am not interesting in the fashion generally, I am just interesting in how to cut clothing... dress make, clothing make, cannot lie..."
Yohji Yamamoto was told that “White is the absence of color, but black is the presence of all colors” – this is ultimately the reason for his favoring of black fabrics.
Yohji Yamamoto is an award winning Japanese fashion designer based in Tokyo and Paris. He is considered to be among the master tailors whose work is thought to be of fashion genius and has been described by Julie Gilhart, fashion director for Barney's New York as probably the only designer you could name who has 60-year-olds who think he's incredible and 17-year-olds who think he's way cool. His more prestigious awards for his contributions to fashion include the Japanese Medal of Honor, the Ordre national du Mérite, the Royal Designer for Industry and the Master of Design award by Fashion Group International.
Yamamoto became an influential fashion designer after making his Paris debut in 1981. His commercially successful main line, Yohji Yamamoto (women/men) and the diffusion line Y's, are especially popular in Tokyo. These two lines are also available at his flagship stores in New York, Paris, and Antwerp, and at high-end department stores worldwide. Yohji Yamamoto Inc. reported in 2007 that the sales of Yamamoto's two main lines average above $100 million annually.
Yamamoto is known for an avant-garde spirit in his clothing, frequently creating designs far removed from current trends. His signature oversized silhouettes in black often feature drapery in varying textures.
Yamamoto's work has also become familiar to consumers through his collaborations with other fashion brands, including Adidas (Y-3), Hermès, Mikimoto and Mandarina Duck; and with artists of different genres, such as Sir Elton John, Placebo, Takeshi Kitano, Pina Bausch and Heiner Müller. |
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