Yohji Yamamoto

Yohji Yamamoto was born in Tokyo in 1943. He graduated for Keio University with a Law Degree in 1966 but went on to learn tailoring under  who is considered to be a master tailor and is known for his avant-garde tailoring feature Japanese design architects. His more prestigious awards for his contributions to fashion include Commandeur of Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon, the Ordre national du Mérite, the Royal Designer for Industry and the Master of Design award by Fashion Group International.

"'I think that my men's clothes look as good on women as my women's clothing […] When I started designing, I wanted to make men's clothes for women." More recently he has expounded: “When I started making clothes for my line Y’s in 1977, all I wanted was for women to wear men’s clothes. I jumped on the idea of designing coats for women. It meant something to me – the idea of a coat guarding and hiding a woman’s body. I wanted to protect the woman’s body from something – maybe from men’s eyes or a cold wind.”

His work focusses on genderless forms, which enable both men and women to wear his clothing. I love that his work is almost always monochromatic. The tailoring is beautiful and the layering and drapery is so attractive. He is the most influential designer in my life. His work has influenced my illustration and my dress sense at times. I will never not be fond of him, he's adorable and massively skilled.

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