Fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto has passed away at the age of 76.
"In my eyes, Dad was not only the eclectic and energetic spirit the world knew, but also someone who was also thoughtful, loving and compassionate. He valued communication and filled me with love throughout my life, ”said (via BBC) the designer's daughter, Yamamoto Mirai.
The Japanese designer was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away last Tuesday, his daughter said in the statement this Monday (July 27th).
Yamamoto was known in fashion for his colorful creations and blending with patterns of Japanese culture. Kansai Yamamoto, born in 1944 in Yokohama, had planned to study engineering but gave up and devoted himself to fashion to become then in 1971, the first Japanese designer to appear at London Fashion Week . At the time, his show was described by Harpers & Queen magazine as "the show of the year, a spectacular turn of events".
After the successful performance, Yamamoto began collaborating with music star David Bowie. The designer took care of his style, including that of his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust. "My outfits became part of David, his songs and his music," Yamamoto told the Hollywood Reporter in 2016. "They became part of the message he conveyed to the world."
Bowie was the music icon who changed the fashion rules of pop culture by becoming the muse for later artists like Madonna, Lady Gaga, Janelle Monae, Lorde and so on. He also collaborated with artists such as Elton John, Stevie Wonder and John Lennon. Together with Bowie, Yamamoto brought about a real revolution through the androgynous style, which the late designer once described as "a combination of the world of sight and hearing."
Yamamoto had scheduled a show on July 31, which will take place according to the statement (via BBC) of his team. The team said the funeral ceremony ended days ago, but a farewell ceremony could also take place, but has not yet been decided due to the pandemic.
