Behind a glass wall, a press, sewing and pleating machine are displayed at HOMME PLISSÉ ISSEY MIYAKE’s flagship store located in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo.
Inviting visitors to view the seihin pleats (product pleats) manufacturing method in which “pleats are made in fabric cut and sewn to 1.5 times normal size”, limited-edition COLORS long-sleeve T-shirts in ten shades made by the in-store pleating machine are available.
“We hope that this shop not only delights customers but also brings a sense of the joys of the ‘monozukuri no gemba (workshop)’ to the public for the first time,” said ISSEY MIYAKE.
“In this space that depicts the contrast between the texture steadily being produced and the futuristic machine, we find the reflection of making things of ISSEY MIYAKE, which is a fusion of experimental technology and handcraft,” said Tokujin.
“I tried to keep the original texture of the building,” Tokujin told Wallpaper* in an interview. “I wanted to express the feeling that time has passed. I think that designing a space is changing today because now you can buy everything online. I wanted to give value to customers coming into the shop. So I created a special space for the pleating machine, so that visitors can watch and experience the excitement of making things in front of them.”
