My Dear Bomb

by Yohji Yamamoto (Artist), Ai Mitsuda

Yohji Yamamoto led the Japanese fashion wave of the 1980s and 1990s into the new millennium. In October 2009, after a series of bad investments, Yamamoto Inc. went bankrupt; by the end of that year the designer had inaugurated a new business and a complete reevaluation of his direction. My Dear Bomb is an outcome of this transition moment. Coauthored with Ai Mitsuda, this carefully and beautifully written autobiography (with biographical interpolations by friends and collaborators) seamlessly combines extended meditations on clothing and life with Yamamoto's memories and anecdotes, in short, concise paragraphs. Throughout its pages, we encounter Yamamoto as a tough realist unburdened by disingenuousness ("I am, in fact, a man who may turn heartless in an instant; I desire only to settle each and every score immediately"); and, of course, as a great designer blessed with unerring instinct for his materials ("how does the cloth want to drape, to sway, to fall? If one keeps these things in mind and looks very carefully, the fabric itself begins to speak"). Illustrated with drawings by Yamamoto, this open-hearted meditation offers a take on the autobiography form as imaginative as the designer's fashion wear.

Genres: Fashion, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 30, 2011

About the author

Yōji Yamamoto is an award winning and influential Japanese fashion designer based in Tokyo and Paris. He is considered to be a master tailor, alongside those such as Madeleine Vionnet and is known for his avant-garde tailoring featuring Japanese design aesthetics.

His more prestigious awards for his contributions to fashion include Commandeur of Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon, the Ordre national du Mérite, the Royal Designer for Industry and the Master of Design award by Fashion Group International.

Reviews

[Emi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books you do not read at once, you keep it next to you for brief moments of inspiration. It is a sneak peak in the world of a sensitive, complex and talented designer, but above all an artist...

[roro · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was sooooo fire omg

[Kehinde Komolafe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautiful. It gave me a new perspective on making clothes, I particularly love how he described where to put a button hole. I really recommend this book for anyone interested in clothes and the creative process.

[Yully Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Im so grateful I got my hands on this book. i love it so much and I kept having to remind myself that I don't have to be agreeing with everything Yohji says. His strong sense of his own philosophy is very admirable and interesting.

[Nguyen Deanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ego and echos fill the sure thick pages of this brief and powerful semi-biography. Loved the non-linear format. I’ve learned more about the specifics of Yohji’s life through his interviews, he is honest and generous, so here were his inner thoughts and intimate reactions. I feel deeply connected to this man who considers himself as nothing more. The musings in collars, couture and pockets resonated; i also have a renewed appreciate for buttons. Wonderful to hold and a pleasure to read.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have wanted to read this book since it was published. I love biographical material but this one was on a completely new level. How one can feel they can almost comprehend a complex artist with sound bite type of writing is fascinating. Insightful and inspirational.

[Flora Wong · Rating 2 out of 5]

2017/9

[Junhui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be conscious

[Yan · Rating 4 out of 5]

向往这样的灵魂

[SofiChick | unahistoriaqueleer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ✨

[Dan Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is why he’s the goat 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

[Cayden Brasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy yohjis clothes now, just wait till after you read this. Opens a lot of doors / questions I had regarding some decision making.

[Pakkei Lai · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for in depth analysis of collars and buttons and shits, minus 1 for questionable sexist remarks, plus 1 out of respect. Ty.

[Nation Hirstein · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of people have reviewed this very well, and I'm glad they enjoyed it. Yamamoto's work in fashion needs none of my plaudits, so I won't wax poetical about the drape of his gabardine pants, for example, or the influence he's had on streetwear. In this volume he comes across as pretentious and not as deep as he thinks. Not to mention, the first page reveals him as a misogynist.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I translated the book. Yamamoto being such a giant in the fashion world, of course they came right to stylish me for the English translation. I am nothing if not a fashion leader. Right?

[Gimmeadollr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book on craftsmanship, identity, and the creative process. Definitely provides an interesting perspective on fashion and work.

[ML · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really beautiful and fascinating.

[Saeed]

Yohji Yamamoto