"A Piece Of Cloth." It is these four simple words that acclaimed graphic designer Taku Satoh cites when asked to summarize the essential appeal of Issey Miyake's creations.
Compressing the complexity of Miyake's creative designs into such a simple phrase is no mean feat — yet "a piece of cloth" are words that Miyake himself has used to describe the philosophy behind his designs, tapping into the dynamics between body, clothing and the space around them.
And Satoh, if anyone, should know. The Tokyo-based designer, who is also a director at 21_21 Design Sight, has collaborated with Miyake on more than 50 projects over the past 16 years, from perfume packaging to watch advertisements.