Essay on Significance of Two Japanese Designers on International Fashion Catwalks

Question 3: Present a critical analysis of the significance of TWO Japanese designers on the international fashion catwalks into the 1990s and beyond. Refer to at least four garments to highlight specific methods of construction and materials used. Suggested designers are: Rei Kawakubo and/or Issey Miyake and/or Yohji Yamamoto.

The scope of international fashion shows has evolved overtime and it is significant to examine historical developments that have been made in the past. Art and fashion make two important aspects that must not be overlooked in society regardless of the situation. [1]There are many fashion designers from the 1990s and beyond who have contributed positively to changes in the fashion industry. The aim of the essay is to develop a critical analysis of two Japanese designers that contributed towards the shaping of fashion and art on an international platform. It is important to note that examining various pieces of fashion from the 1990s as presented by the two Japanese designers. [2]The two important artists that the paper would seek to address include Rei Kawakubo and Yohji Yamamoto who made a great impact on international fashion catwalks in a significant way. Examining both positives and negatives related to fashion and art during the 1990s would prove essential towards promoting understanding on the contribution that the artist made towards fashion.

One of the most recognized Japanese designers include Rei Kawakubo who was born in the year 1942. Rei is well recognized for her avant-garde clothing and her high-level fashion that shaped international fashion catwalks in a significant way. It is important to critically explore garments as designed by the fashion artists in a bid to understand her role in influencing evolution of fashion. [3]Rei started working in a firm under the advertising department and was given freedom to exercise her expertise after college. During the 1970s, Rei formed a professional and romantic relationship with her fellow Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto. Together they came up with different types of clothes that took the world by storm. The two debuted different collections that have proved interesting and shocking to their critics. The garments produced by the two artists were primarily black, oversized and asymmetrical. [4]The two joined hands with Issey Miyake and were considered the most innovative Japanese designers in the late twentieth century. It is important to identify different types of garments as designed by Rei Kawakubo as a way of increasing the scope of understanding on the role of fashion in shaping society. The designer was influential in coming up with thrilling and interesting garments that shocked even critics in the industry.

Figure 1: Rei’ Design Collections (“7 Key Themes In Rei Kawakubo’S Career” 2021)

The figure presented above is an illustration of garments that were designed by Kawakubo in a bid to shape and show a new design in art. Her garments were oversized and have had a great impact on the manner that society perceives clothing and fashion. The garments are meant for women and have since shaped the way people operate and era clothes in society. The garments have been designed in a red and white color that symbolizes different aspects in formulation of fashion as a global concern.[5] The Japanese artist mostly used the black color to come up with various designs that are thrilling and interesting to customers. However, increased criticism from customers and women made her adopt flashier colors in a bid to create an impression. For instance, the picture presented above shows red and white colors that have been utilized to make the designs more appealing to users. it is important to note that most of Rei’s garments have made history and changed the way that people perceive fashion in society. Some of the garments produced are meant for women and to some extent, the artist has contributed positively to development of various types of designs, especially for women and children.

Figure 2: Rei’s Design Collections (“7 Key Themes In Rei Kawakubo’S Career” 2021)

The figure above shows how Kawakubo utilizes the black color and different forms of designs to come up with a garment for customers. For instance, the protrusions of the clothes or garments as designed by Kawakubo is an indication that new ideas can shape fashion and lead to development of thrilling and interesting designs. The garment in the figure above illustrates how protrusions and large sized garments were fashionable during the 1990s. The distortions of the fashion designs as presented by Rei Kawakubo are an indication that fashion has changed. The human body is another theme that has been presented by the artist as her creations seem to distort the shape of the human body. Coming up with unique and oversized designs for a customer was one of the most interesting developments in the 1990s. [6]The garments produced by Rei proved interesting to customers due to its unique distortions that gave a different view of the human body. [7]The most pronounced example of her designs was captured in the spring/summer 1997 collection that had a huge impact in the fashion industry. Fashion designers across the world should borrow from the practices of Rei Kawakubo as a way of increasing the scope of understanding on fashion designs that can be interesting to customers.

Another important artist that can be compared to Rei Kawakubo is Yohji Yamamoto who made a great impact in the history of fashion and designs. Yamamoto is a Japanese fashion designer based in Tokyo and Paris, France. He contributed positively to shaping the scope of art and fashion in the late 90s. It is important to explore the designer’s way of operating and identify various designs that can be utilized and make an impact in the way people dress. For instance, exploring various garments as presented by the designer can help gain a deeper understanding on the same. Yohji was born in 1943 and won two leading fashion awards in 1966 within Japan after completing his studies. [8]The various types of designed produced by Yohji have proved influential in shaping operations and production of new garments in the industry. For instance, the catwalk project across the world was rebranded by new designs that are thrilling and interesting to customers. It is vital to note that the artist loved to use black as a color to come up with new designs but that changed later. There are various garments that could prove helpful in understanding fashion and art as presented by Yohji Yamamoto.

Figure 3: Fashion Collection (Nast 2021)

The figure presented above illustrates one of the most interesting designs that Yohji presented to users in the fashion industry. In comparison to other artists such as Rei, Yohji has proved to be consistent in the manner that he presents various issues that regard fashion. Women designer clothes were influential and Yamamoto opted to come up with different designs for clients. Unlike Rei who used distortions that changed the shape of the human body, Yohji’s designs are well built and can be utilized by a number of fashion artists to come up with different designs. It is through the garments produced that Yohji presents the issue of feminism based on the designs that he introduced. [9]There are many different types of garments that the designer introduced to the fashion industry and overlooking his contribution would be detrimental to understanding the historical developments that have been realized in the fashion industry. For instance, the picture presented above illustrates how women clothes had different designs that have shaped manufacturing of fashion products in a significant way. The need to have official and casual wear for all genders makes the designs by Yohji Yamamoto relevant up to date.

Figure 4: Yohji’s Collections (“The Magic Of Yohji Yamamoto” 2021)

Another important garment that was designed by Yamamoto is illustrated in the picture above, which shows the need to utilize different colors to come up with fashion designs that are interesting. [10]Equally, the picture can be an illustration that women fashion has changed as ladies can wear trousers. In the past, some garments were worn by specific gender and introducing new designs has changed the scope of operations in the fashion industry in a significant manner. It is important to critically explore how important the two artists are in the fashion industry as they offered a new viewpoint regarding art and fashion designs. [11]Fashion can be an avenue to uphold and preserve cultural practices in society should not be overlooked in any way. The two Japanese designers were helpful in increasing the scope of understanding and development of new designs that have changed the industry in a significant manner.

To sum it up, the essay explores two Japanese artists who contributed significantly to changes in the fashion industry. The first artist who is essential in increasing understanding is Rei Kawakubo who was born in 1942. Yohji Yamamoto was born in 194 and has since contributed to establishment of thrilling designs for customers. For instance, official and casual wear designs have helped people develop attires or garments that are completely unique. The paper also presents four types of garments as presented by the two Japanese designers as part of their work. The fashion industry has made tremendous developments as different designers are coming up with thrilling products for the market. In essence, the fashion industry has changed and transformed due to establishment of new ideas that have helped change cloth manufacturing. Yohji and Rei are icons in the industry who set the pace for historical developments.

References

“7 Key Themes In Rei Kawakubo’S Career (Published 2017)”. 2021. Nytimes.Com. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/28/t-magazine/fashion/rei-kawakubo-comme-des-garcons-themes.html.

“The Magic Of Yohji Yamamoto”. 2021. The Business Of Fashion. https://www.businessoffashion.com/reviews/fashion-week/the-magic-of-yohji-yamamoto.

English, Bonnie. Japanese fashion designers: the work and influence of Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo. Berg, 2011.

Fass, Paula S. The Damned and the Beautiful: American Youth in the 1920s: American Youth in the 1920s. Oxford University Press, USA, 1977.

Kaplan, Joel H., and Sheila Stowell. Theatre and fashion: Oscar Wilde to the suffragettes. Cambridge University Press, 1995.

Loscialpo, Flavia. “The Fashion Revolution of Avant-Garde Japanese Designers: Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto.” In Fashion-Wise, pp. 21-32. Brill, 2013.

Marra-Alvarez, Melissa. “When the West Wore East: Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto and The Rise of the Japanese Avant-Garde in Fashion.” (2010).

Nast, Condé. 2021. “Yohji Yamamoto News, Collections, Fashion Shows, Fashion Week Reviews, And More”. Vogue. https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/designer/yohji-yamamoto.

[1] Kaplan and Stowell. Theatre and fashion: Oscar Wilde to the suffragettes. Cambridge University Press, 1995.

[2] Fass. The Damned and the Beautiful: American Youth in the 1920s: American Youth in the 1920s. Oxford University Press, USA, 1977.

[3] Marra-Alvarez, “When the West Wore East: Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto and The Rise of the Japanese Avant-Garde in Fashion.” (2010).

[4] Loscialpo. “The Fashion Revolution of Avant-Garde Japanese Designers: Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto.” In Fashion-Wise, pp. 21-32. Brill, 2013.

[5] Loscialpo. “The Fashion Revolution of Avant-Garde Japanese Designers: Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto.” In Fashion-Wise, pp. 21-32. Brill, 2013.

[6] Marra-Alvarez, “When the West Wore East: Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto and The Rise of the Japanese Avant-Garde in Fashion.” (2010).

[7] Kaplan and Stowell. Theatre and fashion: Oscar Wilde to the suffragettes. Cambridge University Press, 1995.

[8] English. Japanese fashion designers: the work and influence of Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo. Berg, 2011.

[9] English. Japanese fashion designers: the work and influence of Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo. Berg, 2011.

[10] Loscialpo. “The Fashion Revolution of Avant-Garde Japanese Designers: Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo, Yohji Yamamoto.” In Fashion-Wise, pp. 21-32. Brill, 2013.

[11] Fass. The Damned and the Beautiful: American Youth in the 1920s: American Youth in the 1920s. Oxford University Press, USA, 1977.