Brooklyn Montessori Teachers Wear Issey Miyake and Yamasaki Takashi as Pedagogical Uniforms
A viral Reddit post highlighted the fashionable attire of teachers at Ms. Lam Montessori School in Williamsburg, sparking discussions about their uniforms. Stephanie Woo, the school's head, clarified that the uniforms are sourced from Yamasaki Takashi, not Issey Miyake. Speaking from Taiwan, Woo donned a salmon-colored button-up shirt. The school operates five campuses in Brooklyn, where uniforms are mandatory only for staff who work with children under six. This uniform policy, introduced by Woo’s mother in Taiwan 12 years ago, was implemented in Brooklyn eight years back. Woo emphasized that allowing more flexibility in clothing choices in Brooklyn is essential, as beautiful attire contributes positively to young children's development, and Yamasaki Takashi garments are suitable for toddlers.
Key facts
- A Reddit post about Ms. Lam Montessori School teachers wearing Issey Miyake went viral on Reddit and X.
- Stephanie Woo is the head of Ms. Lam Montessori School, which has five campuses across Brooklyn.
- The uniforms are made by Yamasaki Takashi, a Harajuku brand founded on bringing origami principles to clothing, not Issey Miyake's Pleats Please.
- Only staffers who work with children under six wear uniforms.
- Woo's mother, Ms. Lam, introduced the uniforms in Taiwan 12 years ago; Woo brought the practice to Brooklyn eight years ago.
- In Taiwan, lead teachers, assistant teachers, and front desk admin wear different uniforms.
- In Brooklyn, Woo allows more choice because teachers did not want to restrict their wardrobe to one color.
- One teacher, a former model, asked for permission to wear her own Pleats Please collection.
Entities
Artists
- Stephanie Woo
- Ms. Lam
- Issey Miyake
- Yamasaki Takashi
Institutions
- Ms. Lam Montessori School
- Pleats Please
- X
- Vogue
Locations
- Brooklyn
- United States
- Taiwan
- Williamsburg
- Harajuku
- Japan
- New York