Photo of Yohji Yamamoto when he was young. Exact date and location is unknown, but it is said he was a graduate at this time.
The Journey Begins
Yohji Yamamoto was born on October 3, 1943, in Tokyo, Japan. Yohji never knew of his father's existence as he was serving in the Second World War. Believing that he died in combat, Yohji's mother hosted a funeral service for her husband. Yamamoto's mother did not get married again and enrolled in fashion school to finish her education. She then began working multiple jobs in order to help fund her son's education. Yohji attended Keio University, but couldn't figure out exactly what he wanted to do. In 1966, he completed his degree in law, however didn't have a true passion for it. He approached his mother asking to help in her dress-making shop located in Kabukicho, Shinjuku. At first, she didn't approve of this, however eventually agreed under the condition that he attend a dressmaking school to aquire professional skills in the field. Yohji went to study at the Bunka Fashion College, completing his degree in 1969. Due to his unique approach towards fashion, he was granted a one-year visa to Paris by the College.
During his time at Bunka Fashion College, Yamamoto attended a couture design class. After his visit to Paris, he realized that couture outfits were about to fall off. At that time, ready-to-wear outfits were becoming much more intriguing to the fashion industry. Through this realization, Yamamoto no longer saw a future in Paris, and so he moved back to Japan. He returned to helping his mother by designing drafts of outfits for her shop. It was during this time he began designing more comfortable clothes for women, and even opened his own small company for it. After three years of struggle, he decided to return to Paris. After several failed attempts and moving back and forth, Yamamoto eventually found his place. In 1977, he launched his debut collection, Y's, in Tokyo. and by 1981, had began his career in fashion. His idea, as mentioned in an interview with New York Times in 1983, was to dress women in men's clothing. He would start his own line of men's clothing in 1984, it followed closely with the style of women's clothing at that time. During the late 80s and 90s, Yamamoto would date and work on designs with Japanese fashion designer, Rei Kawakubo. Yohji's footsteps would soon be followed by his daughter, Limi Yamamoto, debutting at the Tokyo Fashion Week in 2000. By 2008, Yohji had created his Fund for Peace. This was in order to fund development for the fashion industry. It was also meant to mend the animosity between Japan and China. Every year, aspiring Chinese fashion artists were rewarded with a two year scholarship to any fashion college in Europe or Japan. Along with that, a male and female model were chosen to make a catwalk debut during the Paris ready-to-wear shows. These are just some of Yamamoto's accomplishments and reasons for popularity.
Sketch from one of Yohji Yamamoto's collections, circa 1988.
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