Designers / Japan · Ready-to-wear
Yohji Yamamoto
Yohji Yamamoto is a ready-to-wear label based in Tokyo and Paris, started in 1972. Behind the label: Yohji Yamamoto. It is known for avant-garde tailoring in oversized, straight-cut shapes. Latest milestone on record (2 October 2026): Shows SS27 womenswear on the official Paris calendar.
Quick facts
Yohji Yamamoto at a glance
- Behind the label
- Yohji Yamamoto
- Based
- Tokyo and Paris, Japan
- Since
- 1972
- Focus
- Ready-to-wear
- Makes
- Womenswear and menswear; Y-3 with adidas since 2002
- Trained
- Law degree, Keio University
- Official site
- yohjiyamamoto.co.jp ↗
- @yohjiyamamotoofficial ↗
The person and the label
Who is behind Yohji Yamamoto?
Born in 1943, Yohji Yamamoto works between Tokyo and Paris, the Fédération notes. It dates his label to 1972, while the Museum at FIT dates his company to 1977 and his first Paris show to 1981. The Kyoto Costume Institute holds a Spring/Summer 1983 cotton ensemble cut with decorative holes, from the early Paris years. Y-3, his line with adidas, began in 2002, and the V&A’s 2011 retrospective was the first display of his work to include menswear. He showed men’s and women’s collections on every official Paris calendar we checked, from FW24 to SS27, and Y-3 presented on the menswear calendar from SS25.
Timeline
Yohji Yamamoto, dated
- 1981Shows in Paris for the first time. Source ↗
- 2002Y-3, his line with adidas, is founded. Source ↗
- 12 March 2011The V&A opens a Yohji Yamamoto retrospective, on view until 10 July 2011. Source ↗
- 25 June 2026Shows SS27 menswear on the official Paris calendar. Source ↗
- 2 October 2026Shows SS27 womenswear on the official Paris calendar. Source ↗
More from Japan
Other Japan labels to know
- COMME des GARÇONS Ready-to-wear · since 1969
- ISSEY MIYAKE Ready-to-wear · since 1970
- JUNYA WATANABE Ready-to-wear · since 1992
- sacai Ready-to-wear · since 1999
- UNDERCOVER Streetwear and contemporary · since 1990
- ANREALAGE Ready-to-wear · since 2003
- Mame Kurogouchi Ready-to-wear · since 2010
- AURALEE Menswear · since 2015
- doublet Streetwear and contemporary · since 2012
- SOSHIOTSUKI Menswear · since 2015
- pillings Textile heritage · since 2020
Read the full Japan guide, with the method behind it and where to see the work in person.
Sources
Sources
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Quick answers
Yohji Yamamoto, answered
Who is behind Yohji Yamamoto?
- Yohji Yamamoto. Yohji Yamamoto is a ready-to-wear label based in Tokyo and Paris.
When was Yohji Yamamoto founded?
- 1972, according to the sources listed on this page.
What does Yohji Yamamoto make?
- Womenswear and menswear; Y-3 with adidas since 2002. It is known for avant-garde tailoring in oversized, straight-cut shapes.
Where did the designer of Yohji Yamamoto train?
- Law degree, Keio University.