- Yohji Yamamoto
Yōji Yamamoto(山本 耀司、"Yamamoto Yōji", born
3 October 1943 is an internationally knownJapan esefashion designer based inTokyo andParis .Born in
Tokyo , Yamamoto graduated fromKeio University with a degree in law in 1966, followed by studies infashion design atBunka Fashion College . Yamamoto became one of the most influential designers after making his Paris debut in 1981. His commercially successful main lines, Yohji Yamamoto (women/men) and Y's, are especially popular inTokyo . These two lines are also available at his flagship stores in New York, Paris, and Antwerp, and at high-end U.S. department stores such asSaks Fifth Avenue ,Barneys New York , andNeiman Marcus . Yohji Yamamoto Inc. reported in 2007 that the sales of Yamamoto's two main lines average above $100 million annually.Yamamoto expresses his philosophy and avant-garde spirit in his clothing, frequently creating designs far removed from current trends. His signature oversized silhouettes in color black, often portrayed with drapes in varying textures, has garnered ardent fans worldwide. Although expensive, Yamamoto's dedicated fan base seems to agree with Keizo Tamoto, the executive vice president and
CEO for Yohji Yamamoto Inc., who once remarked that Yamamoto's main line is "a very dangerous line," noting that "if you buy a Yohji jacket, you need Yohji pants and maybe you need also a Yohji shirt and shoes."Appealing to all generations, Yamamoto's recent collaboration with more international brands such as
Adidas (Y-3 ),Hermes ,Mikimoto andMandarina Duck have made his extraordinary vision available to a wider range of customers than ever before. Yamamoto's continued commercial success has led him to open additional stores for his main lines in 2008, in New York and Paris, as well as the first Y-3 store, also in New York. In addition, his unique collaborations with artists of different genres, such as SirElton John ,Placebo ,Takeshi Kitano ,Pina Bausch andHeiner Müller , have also showcased different sides of Yamamoto's aesthetic. Artists such asHerbie Hancock ,Pete Wentz ,Steve McQueen , designerDonna Karen , and actorJustin Theroux have also been seen wearing garments from Yamamoto's lines.Career
*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.
*1995 Designs costumes for the Heiner Müller-directed/Daniel Barenboim-conducted production of Wagner's complex opera, Tristan & Isolde.
*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.
*2003 Designs costumes forElton John 's [http://www.harrahs.com/EventsDetail.do?locationCode=CLV&detailName=elton-john-detail&eventTitle=Elton+John+and+the+Red+Piano The Red Piano] show in Las Vegas.
*2003 Elton John dedicates a concert to Yamamoto in Tokyo.Principal lines
* Yohji Yamamoto
* Yohji Yamamoto POUR HOMME
* Yohji Yamamoto COSTUME D'HOMME
* Yohji Yamamoto + NOIR
* Y's
* Y's for men
* Coming Soon (Casual sportswear)Collaboration lines
* Y-3 (Sportswear - collaboration with Adidas)
* Y's for living
* Y's MandarinaFilmography
* "Notebook on Cities and Clothes" (1989) by
Wim Wenders
* "Dolls" (2002) byKitano Takeshi
* "Brother"(2000) byKitano Takeshi External links
* [http://www.yohjiyamamoto.co.jp/ Official page]
* [http://www.adidas.com/y-3/ Official page: Y-3]
* [http://www.fashion-forum.org/fashion-designers/yohji-yamamoto.html Yohji Yamamoto - Biography]
* [http://www.ysforliving.co.jp/ Official page: Y's for living]
*
* [http://www.showstudio.com/projects/ddl_yamamoto/download.html Pattern by Yohji Yamamoto]
* [http://www.harpersbazaar.com.au/harpers/site/articleIDs/EA5D0E2E64C0A8BECA2571A1001B134B?open&template=domHarpers Interview with Yohji Yamamoto on harpersbazaar.com.au]
* [http://www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/absolutenm/templates/exhibitionscurrent.aspx Fashions by Yohji Yamamoto on view at the Cincinnati Art Museum]References
Much of the content of this article comes from [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B1%B1%E6%9C%AC%E8%80%80%E5%8F%B8 the equivalent Japanese-language wikipedia article] (retrieved
December 1 , 2005).
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