More than a bit of science goes into the creation of an Issey Miyake collection: Many of the fabrics developed in-house have transformative properties engineered in a legitimate laboratory. At the same time, designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae takes a lot of his inspiration from the organic. For Pre-Fall, it was the hexagon, nature's perfect shape. Dressy cropped jackets and car coats done in a 3-D honeycomb pattern were made out of the label's magical "steam stretch" fabric, a heat-reactive material that was steamed into different shapes. The pieces lay away from the body and had a bouncy, lively feeling to them. Diagonal stripes were prominent too, zigging all over a trench made of Ecsaine, Miyake's leather alternative. Blues and berries were accented by golden tones drawn from different shades of honey. While each piece typically housed a trick or two—like a bag that's entirely reversible, or a jacket that can be flipped upside down and worn as a bolero—some of the most impressive details were the simplest. For instance, hardware obsessives will be taken with the beautiful Arita porcelain buttons on a classic wool coat.
