KANSAI YAMAMOTO

(Kansai Yamamoto fitting David Bowie's Space Samurai suit)

Kansai Yamamoto is one of the leaders in Japanese Contemporary fashion, he was particularly popular during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1971 he started his own company, Yamamoto Kansai Ltd, in Toyko, and was the first Japanese fashion designer to hold a collection show in London, as well as debuting in the USA at Hess's Department store in Allentown, Pennsylvania, which was renowned at the time for many avant-garde collections.  His London debut brought him an international spotlight and long friendships with artists like Sir, Elton John, David Bowie and Stevie Wonder. 

(Vietnamese children wearing Yamamoto-designed turtle outfits for a reenactment of the Vietnamese Hoan Kiem lake turtle folktale)

He is known for his avant-guarde fashion designs, winning overwhelming popularity among the trend sensitive population around the world. Kansai launched "Boutique Kansai" in major cities around the world including Paris, Milan, New York, Madrid and London. 

(David Bowie wearing 'Rites of Spring' costume 1973)

"He has an unusual face, don't you think?  He's neither man nor woman.  If you see what I mean; which suited me as a designer because most of my clothes are for either sex.  I love his music and obviously that has influenced my designs but most of all there's this aura of fantasy that surrounds him. He has flair." - Kansai Yamamoto (June 1973)

"Now of course he's an international designer, but he was very experimental at that time - his stuff was way off the board.   So the very first things were influenced by him, and then I got to know him, and he made all the stuff you really know - the suits, the pull-apart stuff, all those things.   He said, "Oh, this band are weird - tee-hee-hee - they wear my clothes" - Bowie (1987)

(David Bowie wearing knitted body suit) 

Bowie purchased the "Woodlands Animal Costume" form Kansai's London boutique to wear for his Rainbow Concert in August 1972. After viewing one of Yamamoto's rock-fashion shows Bowie reportedly loved the costumes which were a combination of sci-fi and classical Kabuki theatre. Bowie and Kansai later met in New York where he gifted Bowie two costumes for his second US tour. Kansai Yamamoto was then commissioned to create nine more costumes based on Japanese Noh dramas. These were the flamboyant androgynous Ziggy Stardust costumes Bowie's wore on his third US tour in 1973. 

(Caroline Coon modelling Yamamoto's famous Cape with matching Wool Jumpsuit, from 1971) 

(Kansai Yamamoto Intarsia Sweater and printed tunic)

Yamamoto uses heavy graphic imagery in his work and bright colours, taking inspiration from traditional Japanese fashion to create something new and modern. 

(Yamamoto by Clive Arrowsmith)

(Julie Roche modelling Kansai Yamamoto)

 (Yamamoto Platforms)

Kansai Yamamoto continues to put on spectacular shows including "Hello! Russia", "Hello! Vietnam", "Hello! India" and "Hello! Japan", drawing in crowds of over 120,000 per event. He continues to be involved in various activities in a variety of fields. Winning any awards including "Fashion editors club award", "Jury's Special award - The 7th Japan Event award", Overseas advisor to "Russia International Human Aid Foundation", "International Cultural Award - The 21st Native Wardrobe Culture Distinguished Services", "the 3rd Ku/Kan award" among many others.