This summer, the Seattle Art Museum will exhibit 80 gowns by shape-shifting Japanese designers such as Issey Miyake, Junya Watanabe, and Yohji Yamamoto, who represent Japan’s massive influence on fashion in the ’70s and ’80s. Future Beauty: Thirty Years of Japanese Fashion represents a time when conceptual designers such as Rei Kawakubo and Yamamoto brought a breath of fresh air onto the Paris runways. Opening this week, it will remain on view until September 8.
Sculptural dress from Fall 2000 required special textile development.
Takashi Hatakeyama
A1970s intergalactic hooded wrap dress.
Courtesy of Issey Miyake
A 1960s floral-print belted dress.
Takashi Hatakeyama
Sculptural dress for Comme des Garçons from Fall 2000.
Takashi Hatakeyama
A babydoll dress made out of newspaper strips from Fall 2008.
Taishi Hirokawa
Plastic raincoat stuffed with newspaper from a 1994 collection.
Takashi Hatakeyama
A Fall 2008 dress with fringed belt.
Masayuki Hayashi
Wrapped fabric dress from Spring 1998.
Takashi Hatakeyama
Tattered dress with pants from Spring 1983.
Taishi Hirokawa
Two-toned structural gown from Fall 1996.
Takashi Hatakeyama
Draped black dress from Fall 1983.
Taishi Hirokawa
An embroidered dress with large tulle bustle from Fall 1995.
Takashi Hatakeyama
A geometric print dress with padded top from Spring 1997.
Takashi Hatakeyama
