Kansai Yamamoto — the Japanese fashion designer who created David Bowie's most iconic outfits — has died. Yamamoto's family announced this week that he died of leukemia on July 21. He was 76.
"As he fought his illness, he remained always positive, never lost his passion towards creation, and was strongly determined to recover and come back with fully-charged energy to see you again," a statement reads. "'Human energy is limitless' was his motto he would never let go, and he bravely kept challenging no matter hard the situation."
Yamamoto's work left a significant — and incredibly vivid — mark on Bowie's career. In 1971, Yamamoto become the first-ever Japanese designer to host a show at London Fashion Week, and he met Bowie a few years later in 1973. The pair struck a creative partnership that led Yamamoto to design the memorable costumes for both the Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane tours, among many others.
"My clothes became part of David, his songs and his music," Yamamoto told The Hollywood Reporter in 2016. "They became part of the message he delivered to the world. He even wanted to go a bit crazier."
Among the craziest may have been the "Tokyo Pop" bodysuit, which found Bowie puffed up in billowing legs and red kabuki boots, as well as the silky white cape the musician famously wore covered in kanji.
It's no surprise then that it was Yamamoto's designs that filled much of the celebrated David Bowie Is exhibition, which travelled to Toronto back in 2013.
Besides working with Bowie, Yamamoto's clothing was also worn by the likes of Elton John, Stevie Wonder and John Lennon. Lady Gaga also wore Yamamoto designs in more recent years.
You can find various tributes to Yamamoto below, as well as the official statement on his passing.
"As he fought his illness, he remained always positive, never lost his passion towards creation, and was strongly determined to recover and come back with fully-charged energy to see you again," a statement reads. "'Human energy is limitless' was his motto he would never let go, and he bravely kept challenging no matter hard the situation."
Yamamoto's work left a significant — and incredibly vivid — mark on Bowie's career. In 1971, Yamamoto become the first-ever Japanese designer to host a show at London Fashion Week, and he met Bowie a few years later in 1973. The pair struck a creative partnership that led Yamamoto to design the memorable costumes for both the Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane tours, among many others.
"My clothes became part of David, his songs and his music," Yamamoto told The Hollywood Reporter in 2016. "They became part of the message he delivered to the world. He even wanted to go a bit crazier."
Among the craziest may have been the "Tokyo Pop" bodysuit, which found Bowie puffed up in billowing legs and red kabuki boots, as well as the silky white cape the musician famously wore covered in kanji.
It's no surprise then that it was Yamamoto's designs that filled much of the celebrated David Bowie Is exhibition, which travelled to Toronto back in 2013.
Besides working with Bowie, Yamamoto's clothing was also worn by the likes of Elton John, Stevie Wonder and John Lennon. Lady Gaga also wore Yamamoto designs in more recent years.
You can find various tributes to Yamamoto below, as well as the official statement on his passing.