Homme Plissé Issey Miyake’s first flagship store opened its doors in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo. In a first for the Japanese brand, the pleating machine – used to create Issey Miyake’s signature pleated fabric – will be on full display to customers, behind walls of glass at the rear of the store. Issey Miyake has long been famed for its pleating technology, which tends to be shrouded in industry secrecy (a pleating machine has only been on public display once before, during a major 2016 exhibition celebrating Issey Miyake’s work at the National Art Center in Tokyo).
Fusing the high-tech with the handcrafted, the store concept designed by renowned Japanese artist and designer Tokujin Yoshioka was inspired by the concept of ‘monozukuri no gemba’ (making things). Spanning 225sq m in a 1970s building, the store covers an area where, until recently, three clothing shops were located, with Tokujin knocking down interior walls to create an open, airy space.
The interior has been stripped, revealing bare concrete walls, pillars, beams and some utility pipes, but specific surfaces see a full makeover, such as the floor of polished concrete and the ceiling plastered in a pristine white hue. Largely uncluttered, the Homme Plissé ISSEY MIYAKE store is furnished with sleek steel clothing racks and matching display tables, in addition to ottomans where shoppers can sit back and take in the merchandise.
Also available exclusively to the new shop is the first limited-edition long-sleeve T-shirt range under the COLORS title (in 10 shades), made by the pleating machine located in the shop. The retail space features other colorful products are the BLOCK title (in 15 shades), and boasts a full lineup of the latest collections.
The new Homme Plissé Issey Miyake carries the full men’s line, but also men’s items from the 132 5 Issey Miyake and Issey Miyake Watch lines. Homme Plissé Issey Miyake, 3-18-14 Minami Aoyama (Aoyama).