Renowned for its remarkable fashion collection, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London is no stranger to a high-profile fashion exhibition, but with this retrospective of the work of Yohji Yamamoto, they may have just outdone themselves. In collaboration with The Wapping Project Bankside and The Wapping Project, two other spaces featuring Yamamoto’s work, the V&A has shed light on all aspects of Yamamoto’s coveted conceptual creations and long history in the fashion industry.
The main exhibition at the V&A features over 60 looks, including menswear, alongside a multimedia timeline that reveals the depth of Yamamoto’s creativity and his journey to becoming one of the most revered designers of our time. The second exhibit, entitled Yohji’s Women, features a collection of images and visual collaborations that the designer has embarked upon in the past 30 years shown at Wapping Bankside. The third, entitled Yohji Making Waves at The Wapping Project, features an installation of the world-famous large-scale silk wedding dress from A/W 1998 seemingly falling into a tank of water where visitors can embark on a boat journey around the space to fully grasp the exhibition. In his 30 years in fashion, Yamamoto has remained a visionary, consistently executing remarkable collections and pleasing both critics and consumers. In an experience most could only wish to have, the exhibitions offer a unique opportunity to see the garments up-close to get a real sense of the creative energy that surrounds a Yamamoto creation.
Yohji’s Women at The Wapping Project Bankside runs until May 14. Yohji Making Waves at The Wapping Project also runs until May 14. Yohji Yamamoto at the V&A runs until July 10.
Images: V&A Museum, The Wapping Project, Vincenzo Grillo, IMAXtree