A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE
Issey Miyake Inc. · Japan
A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE is a Japanese design brand of Issey Miyake, launched in 2021 and led by Yoshiyuki Miyamae. It develops engineered clothing based on the A-POC (A Piece of Cloth) concept first introduced in 1998.
| Parent | Issey Miyake |
|---|---|
| Launched | 2021 |
| Lead designer | Yoshiyuki Miyamae |
| Concept origin | A-POC, 1998 |
| Website | isseymiyake.com |
What is A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE?
A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE is a brand within the Issey Miyake house, launched in 2021. It is led by long-time Issey Miyake designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae together with an engineering team. The name builds on A-POC, short for A Piece of Cloth, a design system introduced in 1998 in which the wearer helps determine the final garment. Miyamae chose ABLE to express potential in innovation and creativity.
Products and positioning
The brand works as a research-led studio as much as a clothing label, aiming to deepen the dialogue between creator and wearer. Early projects included:
- TYPE-I: jacket, polo shirt and trousers in Triporous thread, a material from rice husks developed by Sony, giving a deep matte black
- TYPE-II: unisex blousons made with artist Tatsuo Miyajima, using Steam Stretch technology or Triporous thread
Garments are refined through extensive prototyping, with more than 200 prototypes for the first collection.
Distribution
The brand launched with a flagship in Kyoto, set in a 200-year-old machiya renovated by Tokujin Yoshioka, and has since exhibited internationally, including at 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen.
Why it matters
A-POC ABLE shows how a luxury house can treat material science and manufacturing innovation as the core of its design language.
Frequently asked questions
What does A-POC stand for?
A-POC stands for A Piece of Cloth, a garment-making system introduced by Issey Miyake in 1998.
Who designs A-POC ABLE ISSEY MIYAKE?
The brand is led by designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae with an engineering team at Issey Miyake.