ART

ISSEY MIYAKE OPENS ITS FIRST FLAGSHIP STORE IN MILAN

By Crash redaction

ISSEY MIYAKE has opened his first flagship in Milano, located inside the Palazzo Reina on Via Bagutta, on March 15^th during Milan Design Week.

This is the first time that ISSEY MIYAKE has set up shop within a historic site. The new store features all the collections designed by Issey Miyake, arranged on two floors over an area of 500 m².

The interior of the flagship was designed by Tokujin Yoshioka, who creates experimental pieces at the crossroads of architecture, design, and installation, stimulating a true conversation between these disciplines. While some of his works belong to the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Centre Georges Pompidou, he is widely known for his “Water Block” glass benches located on the fifth floor of the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. His collaboration with Issey Miyake dates back to 1998.

In the words of Issey Miyake: « Design is an act of discovery, making things, making reality, freedom, innovation. Design is work that brings people joy. For me Milano is already the city of all creativity. I am proud to be part of it. »

For the opening of this store, Issey Miyake generates an interesting dialogue between two eras of history: the famous and elegant building erected by the Reina Family in the middle of the 19^th century and the futurist expression of design offered by Tokujin Yoshioka. In discovering the boutique, we alternate between different shapes and styles, from the neoclassical style of the Palazzo with its vaulted ceilings, to the innovative pieces designed by Yoshioka – all within the space’s refined spirit and succession of white rooms in which colorful clothes provide a sense of movement. Within the winding halls of the Palazzo, Yoshioka has placed his blue, orange, and green floating discs that symbolize the energy of nature. As he explains: “The essence of design in harmony with technology and crafts is projected through the space of the store and reflected in the philosophy of Issey Miyake’s creations.”

A new nature is born. Through the building’s impressive windows, we can glimpse two stories of different styles: two aspects of architecture joined together through the spirit of ISSEY MIYAKE’s creations.