Y-3 Spring 2011 – New York Fashion Week

“I am stuck in Tokyo, see you in Paris!”

– Yohji Yamamoto’s lone statement on the cards that were distributed to audience members at the Y-3 fashion show in New York, Sept. 12, 2010

Although Y-3 designer Yohji Yamamoto’s presence was missed in New York, in a way it was understandable. Just less than a year earlier, the celebrated fashion house bearing his name filed for bankruptcy, and that main line is what shows in Paris. On the other end of the spectrum, Yamamoto’s collaboration with adidas – the ‘Y’ stands for Yohji and the ‘3” refers to the signature three stripes in Adidas’ logo – is thriving, with flagship stores scattered across the world. So, Yamamoto (山本耀司) confidently left his Spring/Summer 2011 men’s and women’s collections in the hands of his adidas team and the London band The Duke Spirit, who performed the live soundtrack to the runway show presented at the cavernous Park Avenue Armory. For some, imagery associated with spring may include blossoms and sunshine; for Yamamoto, it was all about an adroit take on hard-edged rock and roll dating back to Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and AC/DC. Blazer jackets, tank tops and black vests draped at incongruous angles, yet most pieces came with a creative DIY versatility that let the wearer decide how he or she wishes to wear them: unbuttoned, slightly buttoned, twisted or knotted. With this open-ended styling left to the consumer, it’s easy to forget that, at the core, Y-3 is still a sportswear line – the laced sneakers and stiletto heels are a slight giveaway – which means that the clothing is incredibly comfortable to wear and sized for a variety of figures.

Photo Gallery: Y-3 Spring 2011 – New York Fashion Week
all photos by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine