Miyake outfits urban man of the future

June 19, 1996
Web posted at: 1:00 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT)

From Correspondent Elsa Klensch

TOKYO (CNN) -- Clothes that illustrate the height of technology and the hard edges of an industrial society typify the look and feel of Naoki Takizawa's designs for Issey Miyake's fall collection. (185K QuickTime movie)

Fabrics

Naoki, who has designed Miyake's menswear for four years, blended modern fabrics and utilitarian hues to create a working man's paradise. It is called a "hybcollection" because the designer formed a high-tech fabric using a hybrid of synthetic monofilaments and natural fibers.

Color

While the designer focused on an industrial color scheme of grays and earth tones, the individual can make a statement with bold accent colors. Takizawa utilized grays to emphasize the industrial theme. The colors range in the grays from steel hues to metallics. The grays can be highlighted with bright, fluorescent accents, like a purple shirt under a charcoal vest or a black ensemble paired with a chartreuse top.

Shape

The clothes are sophisticated yet comfortable and represent the cutting edge in Miyake's line. They are cut to be "not so big, but not so tight," according to Takizawa. The jacket is essential to Takizawa's silhouette, whether it is a long overcoat or a cropped vest. The designer uses vests and sweaters as a casual alternative to suit jackets. Takizawa did not stop in the collection with jackets; he created an extensive collection of coats that he paired with shoes modeled after ski boots. "This time I made like ski boots, classical ski boots. Also I made shoes with a very wide sole," Takizawa explained. The shoes are meant to be fun and comfortable, he said. The shoes accent the coats, which range from quilted ski jackets to more elegant overcoats. The dress coats hang mostly to the mid-calf or above the knee.

Texture

Takizawa mixes shiny finishes to create a textured, graphic look. He also designed a line of "more sporty things," like fine mesh shirts. Miyake's line has a collection of prints using a collage of colors. The colors are predominately in earth tones and give the collection a geographic texture.

Accessories

Aside from Takizawa's shoes and boots, ties are the most essential accessories. According to the designer, men's fashion uses the tie like women use the scarf or earrings. "You know, men's fashion doesn't have scarfs or earrings, (so) ties are very important accessory for men. So I try to make many different ties with the fabric," Takizawa said. The most important part of Takizawa's line is the attitude. "It's fun!" the designer exclaimed.

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