A-POC Able Issey Miyake Distorts Flora With Kenta Umemoto

Fashion and photography collide in A-POC Able Issey Miyake’s latest collaboration. Teaming up with Paris-based photographed Kenta Umemoto, the TYPE-VIII project reimagines Umemoto’s surreal floral portraits, rendering his vibrant compositions into tactile, wearable forms that push the boundaries of both mediums. 

The Issey Miyake concept line was first introduced by the late designer in 1998. Short for ‘A Piece of Cloth,’ Miyake sought to bridge the relationship between the garment and the wearer by transforming a piece of cloth to minimise waste while maximising creative capabilities. Today, it’s Yoshiyuki Miyamae at the creative helm, expanding A-POC through collaborations across various fields, bridging fashion, art, and technology.

Umemoto, known for his striking use of colour and references to ukiyo-e — Japanese woodblock prints — and manga was the ideal match for A-POC thanks to his unique blend of digital and manual techniques. His ability to infuse vibrant colours and rich textures into his images mirrors A-POC's commitment to transforming fabric into living art.

‘I want to bring out the potential that resides in each flower,’ explains. ‘I have not limited myself to the act of taking photographs, but from there I continue to explore a multilayered and complex view of flowers, utilising both digital and analogue techniques’. 

It’s his 2023 FLŌRA series that takes centre stage in the collection that translates his bold work on dresses and jumpsuits. Umemoto elevates nature's splendour by capturing flowers with a finesse that resembles portrait photography, revealing their intricate details and vibrant colors. The synergy between the photographer's creative vision and A-POC Able Issey Miyake’s design philosophy sparked this blooming collaboration. At its core, the project sees flowers as symbols of universal beauty — translating their delicate elegance into fashion. 

Discover the A-POC Able Issey Miyake TYPE-VIII Kenta Umemoto project now at Issey Miyake with an installation at London 10 Brook.