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 — yet dapper — look. A master tailor with a distinctive style, he creates 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.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Yohji Yamamoto clothing, accessories, handbags and more.
Yohji Yamamoto Black Leather Gloves With Long Knit Sleeves
By Yohji Yamamoto
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Resurrection Vintage is excited to present vintage Yohji Yamamoto black leather gloves with long knit sleeves, featuring a cable knit pattern at the sleeves, leather detailing at the...
Hermes Opera Gloves Black Lambskin Leather Size 7
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers a pair of Hermes opera length black lambskin gloves. Exquisitely soft and elegant. Subtle stitch detail above the wrist. NEW or NEVER W...
Miu Miu Vintage Black Lambskin Intrecciato Gloves, Size 7, Italy
By Miu Miu, Miuccia Prada
Located in Caserta, IT
Miu Miu Black Lambskin Intrecciato Gloves from early 00's. Intrecciato details on the upper. Laced up. Made in real leather. Size is a 7, correspond to an M for women. Very good cond...
Christian Dior Black Leather and Hardware Gloves
By Christian Dior
Located in New York, NY
Christian Dior's black kidskin leather gloves has detailed silver hardware and eyelets. fully lined with black cashmere and size is 7.5
Chanel Black Leather Long Gloves With Interlocking CC Buttons circa 1990s
By Chanel
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
The Chanel Black Leather Long Gloves with Interlocking CC Buttons from the 1990s epitomize timeless elegance and sophisticated style. Crafted from smooth black leather, these gloves ...
Yves Saint Laurent 1990s Vintage Black Leather Gloves with Gold Trim
By Yves Saint Laurent
Located in Port Saint Lucie, FL
Authentic vintage Yves Saint Laurent leather gloves, likely dating to the 1990s. Expertly crafted in Italy from supple black leather, this striking pair features dramatic black suede...
Claude Montana Black Inside-Out Leather Gloves
By Claude Montana
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Claude Montana - Black inside-out leather gloves decorated with silvery metallic elements. Not signed accessory from a fashion show. Additional information: Condition: Good conditio...
Carlos Falchi Black Leather Gloves with Bow Decoration Never Worn
By Carlos Falchi
Located in New Hope, PA
These butter soft black leather gloves designed by Carlos Falchi have a wonderful leather bow and knot at the wrist. They are lined in black silk and marked a size 7. Never worn, the...
Smooth Black Leather Gloves with Cut Out Detailing and Ornamental Seams, 1960s
Located in Munich, DE
"And her old Uncle William used to say, a lady is known by her shoes and her gloves." – Virginia Woolf. Beautiful and elegant black mid-length smooth leather gloves with a scalloped...
GIORGIO ARMANI black satin white cuff short evening gloves
By Giorgio Armani
Located in Hong Kong, NT
GIORGIO ARMANI black satin white cuff short evening gloves Reference: NKLL/A00497 Brand: Giorgio Armani Material: Satin Color: Black, White Pattern: Solid Closure: Button Extra Detai...
ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA Size M Black Leather Gloves
By Ermenegildo Zegna
Located in San Francisco, CA
ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA gloves in a black leather featuring a cozy cashmere knit lining.Very Good Pre-Owned Condition. Marked: M Measurements: Width: 4.25 inches Length: 9.75 inc...
BURBERRY PRORSUM Size 9 Beige Brown & Black Animal Print Kidskin Leather Gloves
By Burberry Prorsum
Located in San Francisco, CA
BURBERRY PRORSUM gloves in a beige, brown and black pony hair featuring a animal print pattern and black leather palms. Made in Italy.Excellent Pre-Owned Condition. Measurements: ...
BURBERRY LONDON Size 9 Brown Gold Deerskin Leather Gloves
By Burberry London
Located in San Francisco, CA
BURBERRY LONDON gloves comes in a brown leather with a plaid cashmere blend liner. Very Good Pre-Owned Condition. Marked: 9 Measurements: Width: 4.5 inches Length: 9.5 inche...
BURBERRY PRORSUM Size 8.5 Beige Brown Black Animal Print Calf Hair Gloves
By Burberry Prorsum
Located in San Francisco, CA
BURBERRY PRORSUM gloves in a beige, brown and black pony hair featuring a animal print pattern and black leather palms. Made in Italy.Excellent Pre-Owned Condition. Measurements: ...
BOTTEGA VENETA Fall 2022 Size 8 Black Leather Side Zipper Boots
By Bottega Veneta
Located in San Francisco, CA
BOTTEGA VENETA Fall 2022 boots in a black leather featuring a knee high design, rubber sole, and side zipper closure. Comes with dust bags. Made in Italy.New without Box. Marked: ...
YOHJI YAMAMOTO Size S Black Cotton Notch Lapel Coat
By Yohji Yamamoto
Located in San Francisco, CA
YOHJI YAMAMOTO coat in a black cotton fabric featuring removable brown and purple ramie blend lining, single breasted style, and button closure. Made in Japan.Very Good Pre-Owned Con...
