Kansai Yamamoto, the man behind David Bowie’s iconic clothing, passed away at the age of 76. His daughter Miraiya announced this on Instagram on Monday .
Yamamoto became the first Japanese designer to run a fashion show in London in the early 1970s. There he befriended famous musicians such as Elton John and Stevie Wonder. He started a long-term partnership with Bowie. The designer made several outfits, including alter ego Ziggy Stardust.
Besides those flamboyant costumes, Yamamoto also made modern variations on the traditional kimono. His shows have been shown in prominent locations such as Moscow’s Red Square and London’s Victoria & Albert Museum.
Kansai Yamamoto made outfits for David Bowie, among others. Photo: BrunoPress.
In 2018, the designer still worked with Louis Vuitton. Handbags and wallets from the fashion brand were treated with masks from Kabuki, the traditional Japanese theater form.
In March 2020, Yamamoto was found to have acute leukemia. He died on July 21, his daughter announced. The designer has since been buried.