Vintage Issey Miyake Late 1970s Black Dress with Mandarin Collar

Detail: An incredibly rare vintage Issey Miyake black dress with mandarin Collar, produced for Bloomingdales in the late 1970s; a time when his work was unknown in Europe or USA. This dress is wonderfully simplistic in sihouette. Exquisite fabric has been used that is satin faced and backed in what feels like a soft crepe. High and very elegant mandarin collar with two pop stud fastening. These pop studs continue to the hemline, allowing use as a long eveing jacket or day coat. Single inverted pleat to back.

Period: Late 1970s

Condition: Excellent

Sizing: UK8-10. Bust upto 34 inches. Waist upto 28 inches. Hips upto 36 inches. Length 45 inches. Shoulders seam to seam 14 inches. Sleeve length from shoulder seam to cuff 24 inches

Colour: Black

Fabric: Polyester

Origin: Japan

Care: Dry Clean

Born in 1938, Issey Miyake witnessed and survived the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Upon graduating in graphic design in 1964, he worked in Paris and New York before returning to Tokyo to open his own design studio in 1970. Towards the end of the 1980s, Miyake started to experiment with fabric pleating techniques that allowed for ease of movement, as well as ease of care. Garments were produced and then heat sealed in a press. In 1999, Miyake transferred the design of his collections to Naoki Takizawa, so that he could concentrate on full-time research projects. As of 2012, he is one of the co-Directors of “21 21 Design Sight”, Japan’s first design museum. Ths vintage piece is an exquisite example of his very early work from the 1970s. Vintage Issey Miyake Late 1970s Black Dress with Mandarin Collar.