The avant-garde Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto has said, “dirty is good.” These three words capture the eccentric designer’s love of a dark and disheveled — but dapper — look. A master tailor with a distinctive style, Yamamoto deconstructed conventional silhouettes with his ready-to-wear company, Y's, and pioneered one of the first collaborations between luxury fashion and sportswear by way of the Y-3 collaboration with Adidas. He continues to create everything from coats and jackets to day dresses and evening gowns.
Yamamoto was born to a World War II widow in 1943. By the time he was 26, he had a law degree from Keio University and a fashion degree from Bunka Fashion College. In 1969, he won two Japanese fashion awards — the Endo Award and the Soen Award — which included a round-trip ticket to Paris.
It was in the French capital that Yamamoto realized the fashion world was changing. A casual aesthetic was replacing formal and classical sensibilities. He soon set up his first label — Y’s — and embarked upon designing heavy-duty sportswear.
Yamamoto launched women’s collections in 1977 in Tokyo, in 1981 in Paris and in 1982 in New York. Their pieces loosened the traditional female clothing silhouette in favor of shapes more typical of menswear: simple cuts, minimal details and generous proportions. In 1983, the New York Times wrote, “Yohji Yamamoto may stand barely five feet tall, but his effect on world fashion in the last two years has been enormous.”
In 1984, he made his first foray into men’s fashion under the Yohji Yamamoto label. In 1994, he was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture and, in 2002, he became the creative director of Adidas’s Y-3.
Yamamoto’s fashion has been the subject of exhibitions around the world, including “May I help you” in 2002 at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris, “Correspondences” in 2005 at the Gallery of Modern Art in Florence, Italy, and “Painting and Weaving Opportunity” in 2017 at Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery. In 2017, he received the DFA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Find vintage Yohji Yamamoto Adidas Y-3 clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
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Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS orange padded puffer top XS
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO, Yohji Yamamoto
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS orange padded puffer top XS Reference: ANWU/A00682 Brand: Y3 Designer: Yohji Yamamoto Material: Nylon Color: Orange Pattern: S...
Y-3 Yohji Yamamoto x Adidas Cream Wool Fur Shorts
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These incredible Y-3 Yohji x Adidas collaboration shorts are an avant-garde dream. These are the epitome of street-weird street style is a mix of textures, influences and colors and ...
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO khaki green cotton curved hem military overshirt jacket JP3 L
By Yohji Yamamoto, Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO khaki green cotton curved hem military overshirt jacket JP3 L Reference: WMTO/A00015 Brand: Y3 Designer: Yohji Yamamoto Material: Cotton Color: Green Pattern: Solid...
Black sleeveless cotton jumpsuit with white stripes Y-3 Yohji Yamamoto
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Black sleeveless cotton jumpsuit with white cotton ribbon stripes appliqué. Snap closure on the left shoulder. Zip and hook&eye closure on the left side. SIZE XS on tag but fit more...
Y-3 Flounced Skirt Dress
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
This vintage layered, flounced skirt from Y-3 has an elasticized waist, which allows it to convert to a strapless dress. A drawstring gathers the black f...
Y-3 Yohji Yamamoto Mint Cheerleader Jacket
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Cropped, short-sleeved mint cheer jacket has stretch knit cuffs, a mesh lining, and double zippers, offering a multitude of ways to wear it.
Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO black hooded drawstring hem button down shirt jacket M
By Yohji Yamamoto, Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO black hooded drawstring hem button down shirt jacket M Reference: WMTO/A00020 Brand: Y3 Designer: Yohji Yamamoto Material: Cotton, Blend Color: Black Pattern: Soli...
Black asymmetrical cotton jersey dress Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in Saint-Ouen-Sur-Seine, FR
Black asymmetrical cotton jersey dress. Underlay in the same fabric in kaki on the bottom of the dress; Pocket on both side. Raw cut edge. SIZE M
Chanel long tweed and wool Coat
By Chanel
Located in Sheung Wan, HK
- Multi-colours light blue and white long tweed and wool coat jacket is beautifully done with fully silk lining from Fall 2000 collection. - Silver toned hardware CC on the sleeve....
Brunello Cucinelli vest
By Brunello Cucinelli
Located in Rubiera, RE
Brunello Cucinelli Elegant blush pink asymmetrical vest Little belt in metal: amuleto Size IT M Made in Italy Fabric: 82% virgin wool 12% polyamide Lining: 92% silk 8% elastane Co...
Broadtail Jacket with Gray Mink Collar
Located in Alford, MA
Vintage black broadtail hip-length jacket features a gray mink collar that can either stand up or lie flat and turned-back cuffs. Fur hook closures. Embroide...
BLACK FLEECE Size M Grey White Checkered Cotton Button Fly Shorts
By Black Fleece
Located in San Francisco, CA
BLACK FLEECE shorts in a grey and white cotton woven fabric featuring a checkered pattern, flat front, and button fly closure.Good Pre-Owned Condition. Multiple minor marks. Marked...
YVES SAINT LAURENT Vintage Chinese-Inspired Passementerie Coat, Spring/Summer 91
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Nice, FR
YVES SAINT LAURENT Rive Gauche vintage chinese‑inspired mustard yellow coat with vivid orange lapel and black passementerie - Spring/Summer 1991. This coat reflects the refined exot...
CHRISTIAN DIOR cream wool silk 2022 BAR BELTED Jacket 36 XS
By Christian Dior
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Christian Dior blazer in cream wool (77%) and silk (23%). This luxury Dior blazer features a sharp, tailored fitted silhouette with peak lapels that lend a refined, fe...
1991 AZZEDINE ALAIA RUNWAY leggings with butterfly motif
By Azzedine Alaïa
Located in San Fransisco, CA
Very rare leggings with butterfly motif from Azzedine Alaia dating to fall of 1991 as seen on the runway. Labeled a size M although these fit small. Approximate un-stretched meas...
CHANEL cream leather 11C FLORAL PERFORATED Jacket 40 M
By Chanel
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Chanel jacket in cream leather with intricate laser-cut floral perforation and scalloped trims that highlight the house’s refined craftsmanship. Designed in a straight...
Bonnie Cashin Sills Vintage Suede Dress Coat
By Bonnie Cashin for Sills, Bonnie Cashin
Located in Oakland, CA
Bonnie Cashin for Sills mustard colored suede dress/coat. I believe this piece dates to the 1960s or 1970s. Leather trim with rear goldtone button closure. There are seven total but...
S/S 2000 Gucci by Tom Ford Runway Snake Skin Print Mini Shorts 44IT
By Gucci, Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in West Hollywood, CA
These Gucci shorts from the Spring/Summer 2000 collection by Tom Ford are cut in a mini silhouette with an allover python print in grey and cream. The waist is elasticized and finish...
1970s Issey Miyake Vintage Unisex Waterproof Orange Trench Coat & Hat
By Issey Miyake
Located in Miami, FL
Incredibly rare 1970s Issey Miyake (original branding tags!) nylon trench in a vibrant orange/yellow color with a matching bucket hat. The jacket is a M/L or really a free size and ...
Prada Fall 2013 Women's Black Wool Crepe Asymmetric Midi Skirt IT46
By Miuccia Prada, Prada
Located in London, GB
Super cool Prada asymmetric skirt from the Fall 2013 collection. Worn once. Made from soft and thick black wool crepe, it has a flared midi cut with asymmetric side panel. Lined in s...
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS black straps striped pleather side flared dungarees
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS black straps striped pleather side flared dungarees Reference: ANWU/A01346 Brand: Y3 Designer: Yohji Yamamoto Material: Pol...
YOHJI YAMAMOTO red faux fur collar 3 stripes belted cropped biker jacket S
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in Hong Kong, NT
YOHJI YAMAMOTO red faux fur collar 3 stripes belted cropped biker jacket S Reference: ANWU/A01082 Brand: Y3 Material: Fabric, Faux Fur Color: Red Pattern: Solid Closure: Zip Lining: ...
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS black nylon brown genuine fur reversible vest jacket S
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS black nylon brown genuine fur reversible vest jacket S Reference: ANWU/A00687 Brand: Y3 Designer: Yohji Yamamoto Material: Nylon Color: Black, Brown Pattern:...
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS black wool fur lined hood cocoon coat XS
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO, Yohji Yamamoto
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS black wool fur lined hood cocoon coat XS Reference: ANWU/A00738 Brand: Y3 Designer: Yohji Yamamoto Material: Feels like wool C...
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS black wool double breasted flared capelet trench XS
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO, Yohji Yamamoto
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS black wool double breasted flared capelet trench XS Reference: ANWU/A00740 Brand: Y3 Designer: Yohji Yamamoto Material: Feels ...
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS blue nylon padded puffer jacket pants track suit sets
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO, Yohji Yamamoto
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS blue nylon padded puffer jacket pants track suit sets Reference: ANWU/A00700 Brand: Y3 Designer: Yohji Yamamoto Material: Feels like nylon Color: Blue Patter...
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS black nylon brown genuine fur reversible vest jacket S
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO, Yohji Yamamoto
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS black nylon brown genuine fur reversible vest jacket S Reference: ANWU/A00687 Brand: Y3 Designer: Yohji Yamamoto Material: Nylon Color: Black, Brown Pattern:...
Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO black satin dress with sheer skirt
By Yohji Yamamoto, Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in San Fransisco, CA
Jet-black satin button up dress with sheer skirt designed by Yohji Yamamoto for Y-3. Size M. Approximate measurements: shoulder 15", bust 34", waist 29" and length at center back ...
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS blue nylon padded puffer jacket pants track suit sets
By Yohji Yamamoto, Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in Hong Kong, NT
Y3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO ADIDAS blue nylon padded puffer jacket pants track suit sets Reference: ANWU/A00700 Brand: Y3 Designer: Yohji Yamamoto Material: Feels like nylon Color: Blue Patter...
Y-3 by YOHJI YAMAMOTO Size 12 Black White Mixed Fabrics Low Top Sneakers
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in San Francisco, CA
Y-3 by YOHJI YAMAMOTO sneakers comes in white & black mixed materials with a leather trim featuring a rubber sole and a lace up closure. New With Box. Marked: 12 Outsole: 13 in. ...
Y-3 by YOHJI YAMAMOTO Size 12.5 White Mixed Fabrics Leather Kyujo Low Sneakers
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO
Located in San Francisco, CA
Y-3 by YOHJI YAMAMOTO 'Kyujo Low' sneakers comes in a white mixed fabrics with a suede trim featuring a rubber sole and a adjustable lace closure. Very Good Pre-Owned Condition. Mi...
Y-3 by YOHJI YAMAMOTO Size XL Grey Viscose Jersey Pullover
By Y-3 YOHJI YAMAMOTO, Y-3
Located in San Francisco, CA
Y-3 by YOHJI YAMAMOTO pullover comes in a grey viscose featuring a crew-neck. Very Good Pre-Owned Condition. Marked: XL Measurements: Shoulder: 19 in. Chest: 42 in. Sleeve: 34 in...