Akira Isogawa
Akira Isogawa Unfolding a Life in Fashion
by Akira Isogawa with Georgina Safe
Akira Isogawa exhibition exclusive to Powerhouse Museum
‘As a designer, I want to make things that are emotionally or spiritually connected to people.’ Akira Isogawa.
Akira Isogawa’s name is synonymous with a wave of Australian designers that transformed the nation’s view of fashion. Now a new book and exhibition will celebrate this iconic designer in a career spanning over 25 years. Akira Isogawa Unfolding a Life in Fashion will be released in November, followed by Akira Isogawa, an exhibition exclusive to the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, opening in December.
Born in Kyoto, Japan, Akira arrived in Australia as a young man. For over 25 years, Akira’s signature East–West fusion, manipulation of fabric, form and distinctive ‘fold’ design element, have captivated fashion audiences around the world.
Akira Isogawa: Unfolding a Life in Fashion delves into the creative world of one of Australia’s best known and most loved designers. Beautifully illustrated in over 200 pages, Akira Isogawa features more than 50 garments from Isogawa’s archive, many of which have been acquired into the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences collection, photographed in exquisite detail for the publication. Personal photographs, sketches, memorabilia and keepsakes, much of it from the designer’s own collection, are also included.
With a foreword by Akira admirer actor Cate Blanchett, and contributions from key collaborators, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) senior curator Roger Leong, and Akira himself, the book is a visual celebration and tribute to one of Australia’s most iconic designers.
The Akira Isogawa exhibition celebrates Akira’s unique design process, from his formative years in Kyoto through his journey to Sydney. Known for his fusion of Asian tradition with Australian ease, Akira Isogawa is one of our country’s most loved and celebrated designers. This exhibition is the first to explore his career of more than 25 years, revealing the background, impulses and cultural influences that have contributed to the making of a fashion original.
Akira Isogawa: Unfolding a Life in Fashion is available from November and the exhibition Akira Isogawa opens at the Powerhouse Museum on 15 December.
Akira Isogawa: Unfolding a Life in Fashion
ISBN 9781760760182
Price $80.00
Published by Thames & Hudson in association with the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS)
Publication date: November 2018
About the authors
Georgina Safe is one of Australia’s most respected fashion authorities. She writes for Harper’s Bazaar, The Australian Financial Review, Monocle and The Business of Fashion.
Akira Isogawa was born in Kyoto, Japan and moved to Australia in 1986 where he studied fashion design. Since 1998, he has achieved international recognition for his exquisite contemporary designs, which are sought after in every major fashion capital throughout the world.
Akira Isogawa
15 December 2018 – 30 June 2019
Powerhouse Museum
maas.museum/akira
Ticket included in museum entry Adult $15 / Children 16 years and under FREE / NSW Seniors Card holders pension & concessions $8
About the Museum of Arts and Applied Sciences. Powerhouse Museum, alongside Sydney Observatory and Museums Discovery Centre, is part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS), Australia’s contemporary museum for excellence and innovation in applied arts and sciences. MAAS has a vast and diverse collection of over 500,000 objects.
About The Centre for Fashion. The MAAS Centre for Fashion is Australia’s first public centre for fashion excellence, giving unrivalled access to arguably the largest public fashion collection in Australia. Working closely with local, national and international designers, and industry and tertiary partners the initiative will foster creative excellence, scholarly inquiry and public curiosity through exhibitions, interactive events, fellowships, designer residences, publications, acquisitions, programs and research.
For further book information, please contact Michelle Brasington at Thames & Hudson Australia
T: 03 9646 7788 E: m.brasington@thameshudson.com.au
For further exhibition information, please contact Lisa Poulos at Hush Communications
T: 0408 408 303 E: lisa@hush.com.au
Images available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1vak7ejn3yso4t0/AAC9O—fvSuE-6jBibYK1sxa?dl=0
Akira Isogawa Unfolding a Life in Fashion
by Akira Isogawa with Georgina Safe
Akira Isogawa exhibition exclusive to Powerhouse Museum
‘As a designer, I want to make things that are emotionally or spiritually connected to people.’ Akira Isogawa.
Akira Isogawa’s name is synonymous with a wave of Australian designers that transformed the nation’s view of fashion. Now a new book and exhibition will celebrate this iconic designer in a career spanning over 25 years. Akira Isogawa Unfolding a Life in Fashion will be released in November, followed by Akira Isogawa, an exhibition exclusive to the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, opening in December.
Born in Kyoto, Japan, Akira arrived in Australia as a young man. For over 25 years, Akira’s signature East–West fusion, manipulation of fabric, form and distinctive ‘fold’ design element, have captivated fashion audiences around the world.
Akira Isogawa: Unfolding a Life in Fashion delves into the creative world of one of Australia’s best known and most loved designers. Beautifully illustrated in over 200 pages, Akira Isogawa features more than 50 garments from Isogawa’s archive, many of which have been acquired into the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences collection, photographed in exquisite detail for the publication. Personal photographs, sketches, memorabilia and keepsakes, much of it from the designer’s own collection, are also included.
With a foreword by Akira admirer actor Cate Blanchett, and contributions from key collaborators, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) senior curator Roger Leong, and Akira himself, the book is a visual celebration and tribute to one of Australia’s most iconic designers.
The Akira Isogawa exhibition celebrates Akira’s unique design process, from his formative years in Kyoto through his journey to Sydney. Known for his fusion of Asian tradition with Australian ease, Akira Isogawa is one of our country’s most loved and celebrated designers. This exhibition is the first to explore his career of more than 25 years, revealing the background, impulses and cultural influences that have contributed to the making of a fashion original.
Akira Isogawa: Unfolding a Life in Fashion is available from November and the exhibition Akira Isogawa opens at the Powerhouse Museum on 15 December.
Akira Isogawa: Unfolding a Life in Fashion
ISBN 9781760760182
Price $80.00
Published by Thames & Hudson in association with the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS)
Publication date: November 2018
About the authors
Georgina Safe is one of Australia’s most respected fashion authorities. She writes for Harper’s Bazaar, The Australian Financial Review, Monocle and The Business of Fashion.
Akira Isogawa was born in Kyoto, Japan and moved to Australia in 1986 where he studied fashion design. Since 1998, he has achieved international recognition for his exquisite contemporary designs, which are sought after in every major fashion capital throughout the world.
Akira Isogawa
15 December 2018 – 30 June 2019
Powerhouse Museum
maas.museum/akira
Ticket included in museum entry Adult $15 / Children 16 years and under FREE / NSW Seniors Card holders pension & concessions $8
About the Museum of Arts and Applied Sciences. Powerhouse Museum, alongside Sydney Observatory and Museums Discovery Centre, is part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS), Australia’s contemporary museum for excellence and innovation in applied arts and sciences. MAAS has a vast and diverse collection of over 500,000 objects.
About The Centre for Fashion. The MAAS Centre for Fashion is Australia’s first public centre for fashion excellence, giving unrivalled access to arguably the largest public fashion collection in Australia. Working closely with local, national and international designers, and industry and tertiary partners the initiative will foster creative excellence, scholarly inquiry and public curiosity through exhibitions, interactive events, fellowships, designer residences, publications, acquisitions, programs and research.
For further book information, please contact Michelle Brasington at Thames & Hudson Australia
T: 03 9646 7788 E: m.brasington@thameshudson.com.au
For further exhibition information, please contact Lisa Poulos at Hush Communications
T: 0408 408 303 E: lisa@hush.com.au
Images available here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1vak7ejn3yso4t0/AAC9O—fvSuE-6jBibYK1sxa?dl=0
Media Release Akira Isogawa October 2018
Image courtesy of the MAAS Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.