RIP Issey Miyake: Fashion's Original Futurist

decoud@newsletter.paragraph.com (Becca DeCoud) — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 22:15:44 GMT

I am no Issey Miyake expert. I own one Bao Bao clutch that I did purchase in Tokyo. I would be lying if I told you I bought the bag as a day one aficionado. I was there, everyone else had the style, and I wanted it, too. I’ve reached for my Bao Bao every day this week in light of Issey Miyake’s passing, each time with a growing curiosity about his legacy. What I’ve learned is that his impact is so much more relevant than I ever could have imagined.

He was a futurist. His entire ethos focused on the harmonization of design and technology. He had an obsession with pushing the limits of two-dimensional fabric for the three-dimensional body. Embedded in his work exists a dialogue between fabric and form, always challenging the boundaries between wearer and wearable. Sound familiar? Have I been reading about someone whose career crescendoed in the 80s or 2022 - the year of the Web3 phenomena?

Fashion is in a confusing spot when it comes to how Web3 will change the industry. We all know that it will because it’s already impossible to have any conversation without falling into the rabbit hole of NFT and Web3 jargon. But nobody knows what that change looks like in practice. Where we’re united by the idea, we’re fragmented in execution.

I don’t know where fashion will take its next step. I am finding some sort of solace, though, knowing a master like Miyake believed in the power of innovation. As fashion tries to figure it out, let us look to Issey Miyake who left us profound lessons in both life and work. To cherish and learn from the past is to enrich our lives.

My First Entry

decoud@newsletter.paragraph.com (Becca DeCoud) — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 01:34:45 GMT

Writing is terrifying. Well, at least it is to me. So much starting and stopping and crumpling of the proverbial paper. I’m dipping my toe with Mirror. Let’s see how this goes.

So, why am I even here? Fashion and Art History have my heart. Blockchain technologies have my brain. It’s confusing. I want them to exist in the same conversation, but I just haven’t found it yet. There must be more links between these two worlds I love. And that’s what I’m here to explore.

Join me!