Today it was announced that acclaimed fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto passed away on July 21, 2020 at age 76. During his lifetime, he came up with some of the most extraordinary, eccentric pieces which melded Japanese culture with the new wave of the 1970s and 1980s. You’ve probably seen his work on David Bowie.
Kansai Yamamoto’s daughter Mirai wrote that her father “left this world peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.”‘ She added: “In my eyes, my father was not only the eclectic and energetic soul that the world knew him as, but someone who was also thoughtful, kind-hearted and affectionate.”
Yamamoto may be most well-known for the work he dreamt up for Bowie’s Aladdin Sane tour. Think: a rainbow of winged jumpsuits, cloaks, bell bottoms and everything androgynous in-between. He also brought the character Ziggy Stardust to life with a slew of dramatic, colorful outfits.
And let’s not forget Kansai Yamamoto’s contemporary influence. There are plenty of designers who have paid tribute to the unusual aesthetic, but as recently as two years ago, Louis Vuitton collaborated with Kansai Yamamoto on a Kabuki-themed collection for Cruise 2018.
Below, some of the most iconic imagery from the designer.
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