YOHJI YAMAMOTO Spring 1983 Vintage Documented Deconstructed Kimono Coat

This Yohji Yamamoto kimono from Spring 1983 is a very rare, well-documented and highly collectible piece. Versions of this design are held by the Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute, the Kyoto Costume Institute, (reference photo 2) and the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. (reference photo 3). Versions of this design have been part of the Metropolitan Museum's exhibition "Kimono: A Modern History" in 2014 (reference photo 1) and of the internationally successful exhibition "Future Beauty: Thirty Years of Japanese Fashion" that has been held at the following venues: Barbican Art Gallery, London (2010), Haus der Kunst, Munich (2011), Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo (2012), Seattle Art Museum (2013).

The Kyoto Costume Institute beautifully describes the design: "(...) One of the masterpieces of Yohji Yamamoto in his early years. Deliberately-created holes add quiet nuance to oversized clothes produced by straight cutting. The holes form conventionalized flower patterns. Although the edge of each hole is elaborately finished, they make the clothes look well-worn", and cites the designer: "If one has only one piece of clothing in life, it becomes patched together, exposed to sun and rain, frayed from the course of daily life. I wanted to create clothing with the same kind of unconscious beauty and natural appeal."

The kimono wraps around the front of the body and ties to close. It is made of black cotton with large cut-outs forming floral motifs with jagged edges. Wide cut, knee-length. 100% cotton, unlined. Made in Japan.