Issey Miyake’s Plantation Brand
Issey Miyake, ever since he first encountered design in his home city of Hiroshima, has always been a man whose approach to creation has been characterized by the freedom to have ideas and turning them into realities through research and experimentation. Although Miyake has always been an influential figure in the fashion world, some of his most notable innovations came in the 1980s. Besides the well known “Pleats Please” collection characterized by a pleated look, Miyake also created everyday clothing presented to the world in the form of the “Plantation Collection.” The Plantation creation cemented his reputation as a radical designer back in the 1980s and earned him a permanent and influential position in the fashion world.
Issey Miyake launched the Plantation brand, which was born out of his relentless pursuit of textile research, in 1981 (Miyake Issey Foundation, 2017). At the time, this was a new type of clothing that was meant to accommodate people’s day to day needs by offering them comfort while still being stylish and unique. The brand featured beautifully designed creations that maintained the essence of handicrafts. The brand’s clothing transcended race, age, and physicality. It was also made from natural materials and constituted simple features and slightly and comfortably loose designs that made it ideal for day to day activities.
The plantation brand and its idea may seem simple today, it was out of the ordinary and somewhat rebellious during its introduction days. The brand was launched at a time when the world of fashion was characterized broad-shouldered clothes and skimpy tight dresses (Ventus, 2016). At the time, most designers were motivated by the concept of power, which they strived to explore. Miyake, on the other hand, took a different path and introduced unique for-daily-activities clothing. The brand is still popular today and continues to have an impact on the fashion world.
