A clothes rail and a small bag with one item in it was handed in. What Andrew, the relief manager, took out the bag meant he was gobsmacked (And Andrew loves a chat more then I do, so for him to be lost for words too is no mean feat!)
He had pulled out an Issey Miyake creation.
Now I use the word creation for a reason as we were at a loss for quite a while as to how it actually worked. Issey Miyake is a Japanese fashion designer who explores technology to make very interesting clothes. It is his Pleats Please for which he is best known.
Wikipedia: "In the late 1980s, he began to experiment with new methods of pleating that would allow both flexibility of movement for the wearer as well as ease of care and production. This eventually resulted in a new technique called garment pleating in 1993's Pleats Please in which the garments are cut and sewn first, then sandwiched between layers of paper and fed into a heat press, where they are pleated. The fabric's 'memory' holds the pleats and when the garments are liberated from their paper cocoon, they are ready-to wear."
It took us at least 3 weeks to get the garment to this stage - Folded, origami style, flat... - as it was inside out and with a random strap that confused us.
But then google showed us this. So this is how it is supposed to look! (we think)
We also found out it was quite a LOT of money, so we are now trying to work out the best way for Trinity Hospice to get the most money for it.
If you are interested call Head Office on 02077871001 for details.
Well done Issey Miyake and the lovely couple who donated it!
Bye for now
BG
