Yohji Yamamoto: This Is My Dream
Notoriously private Japanese fashion design icon Yohji Yamamoto lets his guard down in an exclusive, intimate short documentary film about life and the creative process, from Tokyo to New York.
Hailed as a genius, honored by entities from the French government to the CFDA, recognized internationally for his radical innovations and craftsmanship, Yamamoto is a visionary. Known for his mastery of sculptural forms, a penchant for androgyny and asymmetry, and an intellectual-yet-witty approach since he launched his first collection in Tokyo in 1977, Yamamoto has defined the avant-garde in fashion for decades. And yet, after more than 30 years on the world stage, he remains a mystery, cloaked by a careful division between his private life and his public craft.
Opening up about his artistic motivations, his love of music, and his aesthetic vision, the documentary follows Yamamoto through the entire creative cycle of a collection for his revolutionary line in collaboration with adidas, Y-3.
A perfect emblem of Yamamoto’s drive for innovation, the Y-3 label – one of eight distinctive lines the designer oversees- has created a new category in fashion since its introduction in 2002. Born out of a desire to merge Yamamoto’s craftsmanship with adidas’ technical prowess, Y-3 has come to be recognized as the future of sportswear, and it is the backdrop against which the film unfolds.
Yamamoto granted first-time director Theodore Stanley unprecedented access as he went about designing and putting together his spring 2010 Y-3 collection with Adidas, a process that included model castings, fittings, joking around, moments of introspection, and plenty of bons mots (“Too good harmony is boring”).
Best known as the Director of Photography for Bruce Weber’s documentary films “Letter to True,” “Chop Suey,” and “Boy Artist,” THIS IS MY DREAM represents Stanley’s debut as a documentary film director. Other notable credits include the Director of Photography for Chiara Clemente’s film, “Our City Dreams” and commercial work for the likes of Vera Wang, Ralph Lauren, and Chanel. In collaboration with editor Zak Tucker, Stanley has crafted a film that unveils Yamamoto’s artistic process in a way that will fascinate fashion insiders and neophytes alike.
Now, finally, the documentary is available on DVD, arriving next week in all Y-3 stores nationwide. But wait, there’s more. A scented candle is bundled with it, adding to the sense of enlightenment. The hefty box set ($95) is made in a limited edition of 3000, commemorating the ten-year anniversary of Y-3. Until next week, enjoy the trailer…
Yohji Yamamoto: This Is My Dream
“It was a privilege to have the opportunity to spend some time with Yohji Yamamoto in the process of making the documentary film, YOHJI YAMAMOTO : THIS IS MY DREAM. The project presented its challenges, as Yohji is a very private person and has maintained this privacy despite being one of the intriguing working artists and designers of our time. We needed to enter this world as an outsider but leave with images and words that allowed an intimate glimpse to this man’s interior.”
– Theo Stanley, Director