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Jamaican singer Grace Jones wore the blue version of Issey Miyake’s breastplate during her birthday party. The sculptural piece was also a part of the Issey Miyake’s Autumn-Winter 1980-81 collection.
Issey Miyake used car paint to give the breastplate the perfect shine.
A plastic bustier is making waves in the fashion sector and for all the right reasons. The sculpted breastplate comes from the house of late Japanese fashion designer Issey Miyake. It was launched as a part of the Issey Miyake’s Autumn-Winter 1980-81 collection. The breastplate will now be going for sale soon but it will be far from cheap. As per Sotheby’s website, the bid is expected to start from 26,000 dollars to 35,000 dollars. The breastplate is made from molded acrylic with a glitter-flecked bronze finish contributing to the shine.
But what is so special about the piece of sculpture? Let’s find it out.
The official Instagram handle of Sotheby’s dropped a video on Instagram explaining in detail about the breastplate’s significance. Fashion and textiles designer Lucy Bishop who also works at Sotheby’s shared interesting facts on the sculptural piece. In the clip, she says, “This groundbreaking piece by Issey Miyake was molded on an actual human form. It was the finale look of his Autumn-Winter 1980-81 collection.” Bishop adds that the Japanese designer motivated the fashion industry to explore shapes and boundaries within their garment.
According to Lucy Bishop, by designing this wearable sculpture Issey Miyake united the art world. How? By creating a piece sought after by fashion and contemporary art collectors alike. “The back is flocked to make it comfortable for the wearer. It even has its original sticker,” demonstrates Bishop.
Speaking about how the breastplate got its perfect shine, Lucy Bishop explained that it was car paint. She also revealed that Issey Miyake produced these sculptures in multiple colours, “making admirers want to collect them all.”
Not just that, even legendary Jamaican singer Grace Jones wore the blue version of the breastplate for her birthday party. On an ending note, Lucy Bishop revealed, “This breastplate is held in the collections of many major museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and that is why it is worth up to 50,000 dollars.”
The Issey Miyake breastplate will be coming to auction in the Fashion Icons sale for the first time at Sotheby’s in New York City on December 17.