By The Fashion Editorial Team
Opening May 8, Issey Miyake welcomes its New York flagship at 45 Madison Avenue. Occupying the ground floor of Cass Gilbert’s landmark New York Life Building and designed by Solid Objectives Idenburg Liu, the two-level interior looks out onto Madison Square Park. Inside, original Beaux-Arts details are exposed, while expansive windows flood the space with light, situating the store within the natural rhythm of the city.
A rendering of Issey Miyake’s new Madison Avenue flagship, where exposed Beaux‑Arts details and expansive windows frame views of Madison Square Park. Courtesy of Issey Miyake.
Issey Miyake first opened its Tribeca flagship in 2001, with an interior designed by the late architect Frank Gehry, and operated there for more than two decades before closing in late 2025. As a gesture to the friendship between Gehry and Issey Miyake, a titanium panel is displayed in the new space, while glass wall panels from the former Tribeca store have been reworked into accessories display tables. Marking the first gallery space within an Issey Miyake store outside Japan, MADO—meaning “window” in Japanese—welcomes rotating exhibitions, brand collaborations, and special projects throughout the year. Conceived as an overseas platform for craftsmanship and cultural values, this intimate exhibition area fosters deeper connections between the brand’s philosophy and the art and design community.
A rendered view from the upper level of Issey Miyake’s New York flagship, set within Cass Gilbert’s New York Life Building.
Marking the celebratory opening, a selection of limited pieces will be available at the flagship, including the FOLDING COAT, a limited‑edition design featuring a hand‑pressed Rakkan by Issey Miyake, the traditional Japanese red seal of authenticity. The release also includes the UNBOUND HAT, handmade in alpaca, and SHADE AND SHADED_NY, a pleated series comprising two dresses, a skirt, and a top created for the occasion. As seen in the campaign, the coat and dress appear alongside New York emblems such as an apple, a martini, and a yellow taxi, marking the brand’s arrival at a new address in the city.
Opening campaign imagery for Issey Miyake’s Madison Avenue flagship, pairing limited‑edition designs with emblematic New York objects. Courtesy of Issey Miyake.