Issey Miyake
Issey Miyake, the designer whose 1978 book was titled East Meets West, brought together Japanese influences and European fashion. Miyake, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, came to Paris in the late 1960s. Although he worried he wouldn't fit into the world of haute couture, he capitalized on a time of great change to make that world fit him. His kimono-influenced look — loose and accessible clothing made with an appreciation for the architecture of the fabric — was something new, and he has not stopped innovating since. He created the first fashion to appear on the cover of Artforum. He invented a technique for permanent pleating of clothing. His latest project, from the lab of young designers he leads, comprises garments that are each made of one piece of recycled, folded material. In 1960, Miyake wondered why fashion was not recognized as a true field of design — then he made sure that such a question became obsolete.