Issey Miyake, designer of some of the world's most distinctive clothing and international symbol of modern Japanese craftsmanship, received France's Legion of Honor on Tuesday at the opening of a major exhibition of his work at The National Art Center, Tokyo.
He received the award from Jack Lang, France's culture minister for much of the 1980s and '90s, the time when Miyake's innovative ideas perhaps had their greatest impact on clothing design. The 77-year-old designer was gracious, and he assured the hundreds of visitors who had gathered to get a first glimpse of "Miyake Issey Exhibition: The Work of Miyake Issey" that he would continue to work on new ways to explore the "basic human need for beauty."
