Over the past 40 years, the Japanese designers have led the way in aligning fashion with art, ideology and integrity, as well as addressing identity and social politics through dress. They have demonstrated that both creative and commercial enterprise is possible in today's international fashion industry, and have refused to compromise their ideals, remained autonomous and independent in their design, business affairs and distribution methods. The inspirational Miyake, Yamamoto and Kawakubo have gained world-wide respect and admiration and have influenced a generation of designers and artists alike. Based on twelve years of research, this highly engaging book provides a richly detailed and uniquely comprehensive view of the work of these three key designers. It outlines their major contributions and the subsequent impact that their work has had upon the next generation of Japanese designers including Watanabe, Takizawa and Takahashi (Undercover), leading Japanese textile designers, and European fashion designers including Margiela and the Belgians, Viktor & Rolf and Chalayan.