Pleats Please? Yes, please! A brief history of Issey Miyake’s iconic line

Since Pleats Please first launched in 1993, the line became a fashion phenomenon. How did Issey Miyake manage to create such a unique and timeless design, which looks as modern as it did over 30 year ago?
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In fact, Miyake dreamed of the pleats concept several years before the line came to be. The designer drew inspiration from other artists, such as Fortuny, but haute couture was not the main end goal. He wanted something more wearable and free than a fancy haute couture gown.
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The idea came to him while working as a costume designer for a ballet company: the dancers enjoyed wearing his pleated costumes. That’s when he realised that ordinary people might enjoy wearing pleats as well.
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After careful development of the ideal fabric, the Pleats Please line was launched. Soft polyester was processed using heat to create permanent pleats that would shape into unique silhouettes on the wearer’s body.
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The merit of Pleats Please in its versatility — a pleated garment can look appropriate in a variety of settings.
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Pushed by the desire to create clothes that are exciting and comfortable to wear, Miyake certainly left a mark on the world of fashion, as we continue seeing Pleats Please-inspired designs created by other brands.