On April 25th, Yohji Yamamoto held his first runway show in Germany at St. Agnes Church in Berlin, also known as the Johann König Galerie.
The show was part of the "Cutting Age: Yohji Yamamoto in Berlin" event, sponsored by Audi. Under the theme "Cutting Age," which refers to the two meanings of "skillful tailoring" and "Yohji Yamamoto's 40 years of challenging fashion norms," the show showcased approximately 40 pieces from the brand's archives spanning from Autumn/Winter 1994-95 to Spring/Summer 2009. Items featured included a classic blue tweed and fur suit from Autumn/Winter 1997, famously photographed by Annie Leibovitz for American Vogue; a wavy ruffle dress from Spring/Summer 1999; a yellow and black dress from Autumn/Winter 2005; and a black gabardine suit, a style that Yamamoto has always pursued. In addition to the show, the event featured the premiere of Yamamoto's documentary film "5 Cuts | A Visual Dialogue," produced by the Berlin creative collective MADE, and an installation by Masao Nihei at the boutique Andreas Murkudis. Nihei has been responsible for the lighting for Yohji's collections every season and designed the venue for this show. Yamamoto has a deep connection with Germany, and German film director Wim Wenders produced Yamamoto's documentary film "Video Notes on the City and Fashion." Yamamoto has also designed dance costumes for Pina Bausch and costumes for Wagner's opera "Tristan and Isolde" at the Bayreuth Festival. Yamamoto has also frequently presented collections inspired by the work of photographer August Sander.