My Miyake story In the summer of 1986, I made a bridal hat for a charming young Japanese client. She was a junior junior studio assistant at Issey Miyake in Tokyo. A year later whilst walking in the Rue Étienne Marcel in Paris, a limousine drew up, the black glass wound down and from behind dark glasses a handsome gentleman said to me,’ excuse me Sir, are you Stephen Jones? I nodded and he jumped out of the car. Bowing low he said, ‘my name is Issey Miyake, last year you made a hat for my assistant, I redesigned her dress to go with your hat as it was so beautiful’. I asked what he was doing in Paris and he replied his men’s show that afternoon and invited me to attend, offering me his hand-made visiting card (with only his name, no other information, so chic). I arrived at the show venue and resembling the parting of the Red Sea, the Japanese PRs waved me forward holding the other guests back, seating me between the fashion monarchs Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune and John Fairchild of WWD. Dear Issey a beautiful show, a beautiful talent, a beautiful man.