Issey Miyake died of liver cancer on August 5th, 2022. His passing led me to reflect on the impact his work has had on my life. I was first introduced to Issey Miyake’s designs courtesy of my media lecturer father’s well-appointed wardrobe. He’d embraced Japanese avant-garde fashion in the late-1980s/1990s, and so as a...
How We Measure
Buying clothes online can be a bit daunting. This is especially true when you’re shopping from Japan! We’ve written this guide to explain exactly how we measure garments at Nippon Couture. Finding your ideal size The best way to ensure clothing fits as desired is by comparing measurements to an item that you own,...
Japanese Shoe Sizes: Yohji Yamamoto, COMME des GARÇONS, and ISSEY MIYAKE
Nippon Couture’s guide to Japanese shoe sizing We’ve done our best to cover this complex subject. Now, please bear in mind that there’s often variation in how shoe sizes are marked depending on the region of the world they’re sold. Also, it’s not uncommon for designer shoe sizing to be a little off compared...
Yohji Yamamoto X Suzume Uchida BLACK Scandal POP-UP SHOP
The BLACK Scandal Pop-up shop is currently touring Japan. It features work from the much-celebrated collaboration between Yohji Yamamoto and Japanese painter Suzume Uchida. Uchida’s artwork is often self-portraiture, in a gothic style that matches well with Yohji’s aesthetic. There’s a fragility to her work, but also an erotic power. Pieces from this collaboration...
Junya Watanabe Menswear Lines
Early days Junya Watanabe was born in Fukushima, Japan, in 1961. He graduated from Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo in 1984. Comme des Garçons offered Watanabe an apprenticeship working as a patternmaker. Following a rapid ascent, Rei Kawakubo’s precocious protégé took over as chief designer for Comme des Garçons Homme in 1987. He was...
Yohji Yamamoto Pour Homme 2019 S/S Collection
Paris fashion week was awash with the type of loose cuts Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garçons) made famous in the 1980s. Consequently, the fashion world looked to the originator of the style. Classic Yohji Yohji Yamamoto’s Pour Homme 2019 Spring/Summer collection Paris show began with some classic asymmetrical pieces. Black gabardine...
Issey Miyake Men Autumn Winter 2018 – In the whirlwind of urban life
Issey Miyake Men Autumn Winter 2018 collection is here. It’s fair to say that we at Nippon Couture are loving it. Debuted in Paris in January 2018, the season’s theme is “In the whirlwind of urban life”. It takes inspiration from the “richness of urban life sensations”. Layers Unconventional combinations are mixed with layers...
Issey Miyake Men Stores Worldwide
As we were in London last week, it would have been remiss not to visit the Issey Miayke store there. The London Issey Miyake flagship store is located in Mayfair, in a 1950s building that used to house a bank. The renovation was led by Tokujin Yoshioka, who was also responsible for the Issey...
Japanese Menswear Sizing and Cuts
Different Dimensions Japanese people are on average a little bit smaller than your typical Westerner. Although this is an often-exaggerated cultural stereotype, there is some truth in it. Try finding a pair of size 12 shoes in Japan! Therefore, as you might expect, clothing made for the Japanese domestic market tends to reflect this....
Comme des Garçons Menswear Lines
Rei Kawakubo is one of the most influential designers of her generation. Never one to court the limelight, she allows her clothes to do the talking. Her designs question our conception of gender and beauty. They tread the fine line between fashion and art. Kawakubo founded Comme des Garçons in 1969. Following her debut...