Pleats Please by Issey Miyake, summer 1999
5 ¼” w. x 11 ½” h.

This drawstring pouch looks like a Mohawk when closed! It’s made of a wonderfully papery-feeling, crispy polyester. It was both pleated and silk-screened after fabrication, which resulted in the color striation on the pleats and the bleeding on the edges of the violet color block. The top edge of the bag was laser-cut into strips which are supported at their base by the lining.
I found this little handbag in the Pleats Please shop in Soho in the summer of 1999.

ADORABLE ISSEY MIYAKE PLEATS PLEASE BEIGE SHOULDER BAG $65.00

ISSEY MIYAKE Red pleats origami Purse BAG please wind $78.00

Popularity: 20% [?]

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Pleats Please by Issey Miyake, spring 2008—“Bilbao Bag”
13 ½” x 13 ½” + adjustable straps

I love how this foldable, collapsible bag resembles origami! According to the MoMA website, “the construction of this bag is inspired by the panels of metal that steel workers fuse together to create a functional structure.” Perhaps it’s another homage to Bucky!

Just like the geodesic dome bag, the triangles are polyvinyl chloride fused to polyester, only for this bag the poly is a mesh which provides lightness and movement to the unlined tote. I first saw this bag in the autumn of 2004 in both pewter and bronze at the Issey Miyake Tribeca store—gorgeous! Check out the Museum of Modern Art Design Store and Takashimaya New York for the current color selection. And no, it’s not available at the Guggenheim Bilbao, but there are two very cool silver museum logo totes by Chus Bures in the museum shop.

Popularity: 100% [?]

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Pleats Please by Issey Miyake, autumn 2003
13” diameter

When I first saw this in a boutique window, I thought it looked like a big squishy beach ball. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a geodesic dome! I certainly can’t speak for Mr. Miyake’s design intentions, but to me it is a witty homage to the great Buckminster Fuller.

The triangles are polyvinyl chloride fused on polyester, made in Japan. A single magnetic snap closes the polyester lined bag.

ADORABLE ISSEY MIYAKE PLEATS PLEASE BEIGE SHOULDER BAG $65.00

ISSEY MIYAKE Red pleats origami Purse BAG please wind $78.00

Popularity: 19% [?]

Technorati Tags: Designer Handbags, issey miyake, pleats please