The Cutting Edge: Fashion from Japan

The story of Japanese fashion is both brief and extraordinary and has challenged Western notions of fashion and aesthetics. The Cutting Edge examines this story and looks at the work of nineteen designers. Pioneers Hanae Mori, Kenzo Takada and the 'Big 3' - Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garcons), Issey Miyake and Yohji Yamamoto - feature, and the exciting work of a new generation of designers, led by Junya Watanabe and Jun Takahashi, is also discussed. The influences and events that have helped shape the Japanese fashion industry are wide. From the impact of post-war Japanese society and the influence of Japan's textile tradition to the adoption of advanced technology, the story which unfolds is consistently fascinating. Combining an absorbing narrative, designers' profiles and over one hundred colour images, The Cutting Edge provides valuable insights into the birth and development of Japan's innovative fashion industry and as such is essential reading for fashion specialists; textile makers and designers; students of fashion, design and visual arts and anyone interested in contemporary Japanese culture.