Designer puts faith in innovation

ISSEY MIYAKE celebrated 20 years in Paris at the spring ready- to-wear collections, writes Roger Tredre.

The Japanese designer, who first showed in Paris in 1973, proved that the years have not dulled his appetite for innovation.

Models and dancers from the Ballet Frankfurt wore pleated and twisted layered dresses that swayed up and down in motion. Other models wore mesh stretch playsuits and carried huge zippered transparent ring bags that Mr Miyake called his 'astro-float bags'.

For spring, he showed soft jackets in ultra-thin wool georgette worn with semi-opaque chiffon trousers.

Loose cotton shifts were dyed and treated so that the fabric puckered like a modern version of cheesecloth. Pleats were twisted, turned and punched with heat to inspired effect.

(Photograph omitted)