Issey Miyake, designer, and founder of the Miyake Design Studio and the Issey Miyake Group passed away on 5 August at a hospital in Tokyo, surrounded by close friends and associates. The cause of death was hepatocellular carcinoma. He was 84 years old. As per Mr. Miyake’s wishes, there will be no funeral or memorial service.

Miyake founded the Miyake Design Studio in 1970 and over the next 50 years produced revolutionary designs geared toward addressing the needs of contemporary lifestyles. Never one to embrace trends, Miyake’s dynamic spirit was driven by a relentless curiosity and desire to convey joy through the medium of design. Always a pioneer, Miyake both embraced traditional handcrafts but also looked to the next solution: the newest technology driven by research and development. He never once stepped back from his love, the process of making things. He continued to work with his teams, creating new designs and supervising all collections under the various Issey Miyake labels. His spirit of joy, empowerment and beauty will be carried on by the next generations.