So, I first got curious about Issey Miyake’s stuff for men a good while ago. Wasn’t really hunting for designer clothes or anything. I think I stumbled across some photos, maybe online or in some magazine I barely remember. It was those pleats, you know? The signature wrinkled look. They looked really comfy but also stood out, not like your standard shirt and pants. Didn’t do anything about it then, just kinda logged it in the back of my mind as ‘interesting’.
Then, maybe a year or two later, I was just killing time, wandering through a big department store. Wasn’t planning on spending much. And there it was, a small section with his clothes. Felt I had to go take a closer look. Touching the fabrics was the first thing. That pleated material, it’s hard to describe. Felt kind of techy but also natural? Very light. Some pieces almost felt like structured paper, but obviously, it was cloth. The shapes were different too. Not tight fitting at all, very loose, almost architectural. Seemed a bit serious, and yeah, the price tags were definitely serious too.
I decided, what the heck, let’s try something on. Grabbed a pair of the pleated trousers, the classic ones I guess, and maybe a simple top that matched. Headed to the fitting room. Putting them on was… different. Felt incredibly light, honestly like I wasn’t wearing much at all. The pants just sort of hung and moved with me, zero restriction. Looked in the mirror. It wasn’t really my usual style, felt a bit arty. But it wasn’t loud or attention-grabbing in a bad way. It was all about the texture and the silhouette. Felt kinda cool, but still wasn’t sure if I could pull it off regularly.
Wearing It Out
I ended up buying a pair of the black pleated trousers. Thought black would be easiest to wear with my other clothes. Started wearing them, not every day, but for things like going out for a relaxed dinner or meeting friends. The biggest thing was the comfort, especially when it got warmer. They felt so airy. Didn’t get loads of comments, but occasionally I’d notice someone giving them a second look, probably trying to figure out the material. It wasn’t like wearing a big logo; it was way more understated. It made me feel quite put-together, but still relaxed. And travel? These things are amazing. Roll them into a ball, stuff them in a bag, pull them out, and they look exactly the same. No wrinkles. That was a huge unexpected bonus.
Here’s what stood out to me after wearing them for a while:
- Comfort: Top level. Seriously, feels like wearing nothing sometimes.
- Travel: Absolute game changer. Pack small, no ironing needed. Fantastic.
- Style: It’s definitely unique. More about the fabric and shape than logos or colors.
- Care: Surprisingly easy. Usually just a quick wash and hang dry.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, getting into Issey Miyake wasn’t about jumping on some high-fashion trend for me. It was more finding something that felt genuinely good to wear, was practical, and had a bit of thoughtful design behind it. It’s probably not for everyone’s taste, and maybe not for every single occasion. But those pleated trousers, they found a solid spot in my rotation. Easy to wear, easy to look after, just feels good. It’s funny, it reminds me of this old project I had fixing up a really basic old watch. Started out just curious about the mechanism, the way it was built, but ended up really appreciating just how simply and reliably it did its job. That’s kind of how I feel about these clothes. They just work, quietly and comfortably.
