Akira Isogawa

Akira Isogawa is the eponymous Sydney fashion label of Kyoto-born designer Akira Isogawa, who opened his first shop in 1993. The independently owned label makes womenswear, menswear and bridal pieces that blend Japanese tradition with Australian ease.

What is Akira Isogawa?

Akira Isogawa is a Sydney designer label founded by the designer of the same name. Born in Kyoto, Japan, Isogawa moved to Sydney in 1986, studied fashion design at East Sydney Technical College and opened his first shop in 1993. The label remains independently owned.

History

His first solo collection at Australian Fashion Week in May 1997 drew international attention when Joan Burstein of Browns in London bought the entire collection. From 1998 he showed in Paris twice a year, alongside resort collections in Sydney. He received a fashion excellence award in 2006 and became the inaugural Australian Fashion Laureate in 2007. The Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences in Sydney staged a retrospective of more than 200 garments from December 2018 to June 2019.

Products and positioning

The label combines traditional Japanese references, including kimono silk and techniques, with a relaxed Australian sensibility. Its work spans colourful womenswear, menswear and bridal gowns, and the designer describes his approach as slow fashion. Collections are presented online and in store.

Why it matters

Akira Isogawa was one of the first Australian designers to build a sustained presence on the Paris schedule, and his label remains a reference point for craft-led, independent design in Australia.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Akira Isogawa?

Akira Isogawa is a Kyoto-born fashion designer who moved to Sydney in 1986 and opened his first shop there in 1993.

What is Akira Isogawa known for?

He is known for designs that blend Japanese tradition, including kimono silk, with Australian ease, and for showing in Paris from 1998.

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