Kansai Yamamoto - Fashion Designer

Kansai Yamamoto is best known for his work of the 70's and 80's. He was inspired by the colourful art of Japan's momoyama period (1568-1615) and classical kabuki theatre. Born in 1944 in Yokohama, Tokyo. He had studied English and civil engineering at Nippon University and also Bunka collage of fashion in 1967, and at an early age of 27 he opened his own company, Yamamoto Kansai company ltd. He then held his first international fashion show in London 1971. This fashion show earned Kansai a long friendship with top artists at this time i.e. David Bowie, Elton john and Stevie wonder. Yamamoto's designs became a young fashion trend throughout the world. Shortly after he participated in '74 Paris collection' and '70 NY collection', Kansai opened, "boutique Kansai" in a number of cites all over the world, some of these cites were Milan, New York and Paris. He became a renowned international fashion designer.

Shortly after Yamamoto's fashion show in London, David Bowie was made aware of Kansai's work and purchased the "woodland animal costume" from his London boutique, which he wore at his rainbow concert in august 1972. Bowie reportedly watched a video of a rock-fashion show that Yamamoto had staged in Japan, and loved the costumes, which were a combination of Sci-Fi and traditional Kabuki theatre, which Kansai adored. During Bowie's 2nd US tour Kansai and Bowie met in New York where Kansai gave Bowie a gift of two costumes. Shortly after Kansai was commissioned to design and make nine more costumes based on traditional Japanese Noh dramas, these costumes would then be picked up in Tokyo in April 1973 for Bowie. These costumes were soon to be the Ziggy and Stardust costumes Bowie wore on the 3rd UK tour in April 1973.

Another best known face of the 70's and 80's was Marie Helvin, who was also a model for Kansai Yamamoto. Marie was born in 1952 in Tokyo, Japan, and at the early age of 15 she was the face of kanebo cosmetics. Later she had moved to London and worked wit other designers such as, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace and Valentino. In December 1975 she was on the cover of vogue, and became acquainted with the photographer David Bailey who she married shortly after at only 19 years of age.

David Bailey who was born in Leytonstone, London 1938, was an up and coming photographer at this time. He had a younger sister and was raised by his mother and father in East Ham. David's father was a tailor's cutter and after his father left the family David's mother became a machinist. David's love for natural history led him to photography. In 1959 he became a photographic assistant at the John French studios, after begin previously interviewed. This led David to be contracted as a fashion photographer for vogue in 1960.

The 1970's were possibly the most important years in modern British