Kansai Yamamoto, the Japanese fashion designer best known for his dramatic costumes for David Bowie's stage tours, has passed away at the age of 76.
Yamamoto, who designed stagewear for stars including Bowie, Elton John and Lady Gaga, died of acute myeloid leukaemia on 21 July 2020.
After showing his first collection at London Fashion Week in 1971, Yamamoto had some of his exuberant kabuki theatre-style designs stocked in a shop on London's King's Road. Bowie, who was creating the persona of Ziggy Stardust that year, purchased Yamamoto's garments for his upcoming tour as the Stardust character.
Yamamoto and Bowie went on to meet and become friends, collaborating on a wardrobe of costumes for the star's Aladdin Sane tour, including the iconic striped Tokyo Pop jumpsuit with flared legs. Kansai Yamamoto designed the Tokyo Pop jumpsuit for David Bowie
Displayed at the V&A's 2013 David Bowie exhibition, the Tokyo Pop jumpsuit has plastic press studs around the edges that enable it to be torn away on stage for a fast and theatrical costume reveal.
Yamamoto's death has left the fashion world in mourning, as designers remembered how his energy and creativity had touched their lives.
Designer Marc Jacobs recalled meeting Yamamoto in 1980 when Jacobs was a student.
"Kansai was so impressed by my youthful energy and creative spirit, that he offered me a dream opportunity ? to envision and arrange a 'Happening/after-party' in celebration of The Kansai Restaurant, an imaginary...