Issey Miyake: back on a fashion maverick

PARIS – Issey Miyake, a Japanese fashion maverick famous for his cutting-edge fabrics and best-selling fragrances, has died in a Tokyo hospital at the age of 84.< /p>

The cause of death was hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer, according to a brief statement Tuesday from the Miyake Design Studio and the Issey Miyake Group, which added that he was "surrounded by close friends and associates" at the time of his death.

There will be no funeral or memorial service, per designer's wishes.

Miyake founded his design studio in 1970 and made it synonymous with colorful, practical and innovative clothing. He was one of the first Japanese designers to parade in Paris and was part of a wave of talent that propelled the island nation onto the international fashion map in the 1970s.

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The designer is perhaps best known for his Pleats Please franchise, whose crimped fabrics have recently seen increasing popularity with men, for whom the label reads Homme Plissé Issey Miyake.

He also launched a series of popular and innovative fragrances, headlined by his signature women's fragrance L'Eau d'Issey.

A-POC - or A Piece of Cloth - the experimental Miyake line founded in 1998, was emblematic of the designer's constant search for designs that met the needs of contemporary lifestyles. A-POC garments were initially made in a continuous knitted tube with die-cut designs that the wearer cut out himself.

Its product universe now also includes eyewear, watches and lighting.

The designer gradually withdrew from the front lines of the creative process, passing the torch of design to a host of acolytes who never ceased to enliven Paris Fashion Week with parades incorporating elements of dance and performance.

Designers Karl Lagerfeld, Oscar de la Renta and Issey Miyake pose for a portrait outside the Four Seasons Hotel in New York on April 12, 1984. WWD

According to the company's website, "Miyake's management not only focuses on individual creativity and research, but also on teamwork. This leads to the culture of next generation of talent."

In a statement on Tuesday, the house said, "Never one to embrace trends, Miyake's dynamic spirit was driven by relentless curiosity and a desire to convey joy through of design. Always a pioneer, Miyake both embraced traditional craftsmanship, but also pursued the next solution: the latest technology based on research and development. He never once backed down from his love , the process of making things. He continued to work with his teams, creating new designs and overseeing all collections under the various Issey Miyake labels. His spirit of joy, empowerment and beauty will be carried on for generations to come. ."

Born in Hiroshima in 1938, Miyake trained as a graphic designer and graduated from Tama University in F...