Yohji Yamamoto

Yohji Yamamoto is a Japanese fashion designer based in Tokyo and Paris Considered a master tailor he is known for his avant-garde tailoring featuring Japanese design aesthetics.

Yamamoto debuted in Tokyo in 1977, followed by two more shows; a debut in Paris in 1981 and in New York in 1982.

His first collection under the label Y's, focused on a collection for women that reflected typical men's garments, with clothes cut in uncluttered shapes with washed fabrics and dark colors.

In an interview with The New York Times in 1983.  Yamamoto said of his designs, "I think that my men's clothes look as good on women as my women's clothing  "When I started making clothes for my line Y's in 1977, all I wanted was for women to wear men's clothes. I jumped on the idea of designing coats for women. It meant something to me – the idea of a coat guarding and hiding a woman's body. I wanted to protect the woman's body from something – maybe from men's eyes or a cold wind."

His commercially successful main line, Yohji Yamamoto (women/men) and Y's, are especially popular in Tokyo These two lines are also available at his flagship stores in Paris and Antwerp, and at high-end department stores worldwide.