Issey Miyake, Fashion Visionary and Innovator, Dies at 84

Issey Miyake, the renowned Japanese fashion designer celebrated for his innovative heat-pressed pleating, passed away at the age of 84. Born Kazunaru Miyake in Hiroshima in 1938, he endured the atomic bombing in 1945. He pursued graphic design at Tama University before studying fashion in Paris, where he trained under Guy Laroche and Hubert Givenchy. In 1971, he established the Miyake Design Studio in New York, unveiling his first collection. His iconic 'Pleats Please' line, which fused European drapery with Japanese origami, was introduced in 1993. Influential figures such as Grace Jones and Steve Jobs admired his creations. He collaborated with various artists and showcased works like 'Bodyworks' in 1983, believing fashion resembled "beautiful architecture for the body" before retiring in the late 1990s.