# Folding the Issey Miyake 132 5. Folding Garment Skirt

This video demonstrates the unfolding and refolding process of the 132 5. Issey Miyake folding garment skirt. The garment shifts between a three-dimensional wearable shape and a flat, geometric folded form based on pre-set permanent pleat lines.

> Source: Collections in Motion: Folding Miyake Long Skirt
> Length: 1 min 46 s
> Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNmUTnLHgJk
> Timestamps are AI estimates; check them against the video.

## Prep

| Tools & materials | Spec / notes |
| --- | --- |
| 132 5. Issey Miyake folding garment skirt (folded, transfer-printed, permanently pressed polyester) | 1 |
| Flat work table with clean surface covering | 1 |

## Steps

1. Grasp the inner edges of the folded garment with both hands and lift it upward off the table to expand the skirt into its three-dimensional shape. (~00:01)

2. Lower the skirt back onto the table surface with the hem spread wide. (~00:16)

3. Tuck the waistband and upper interior panels into the center opening along the existing crease lines. (~00:23)

4. Rotate around the central aperture, pulling and smoothing each layered fold inward to align the pre-pressed geometric facets. (~00:37)

5. Adjust and flatten the surrounding star-shaped outer points along their permanent fold lines. (~00:51)

6. Tuck the final waistband segment inward flush with the central opening. (~01:04)

7. Gently smooth on the center and inspect the outer points, lifting and smoothing any misaligned triangular flaps until the entire skirt lies completely flat in its original star pattern. (~01:09)

## Garment Overview (~00:00)

The demonstrated piece is a 132 5. folding garment designed by Issey Miyake and Reality Lab. Its folded, transfer-printed and permanently pressed polyester expands into a three-dimensional skirt and folds flat into an origami-like star shape.

## Refolding Principles (~00:18)

Collapsing the garment back into its geometric form requires following the permanent press crease lines. The inner waistband folds downward into the center opening, and each concentric angular flap is smoothed sequentially in rotational order so the garment lies completely flat without misaligned creases.

## To verify

- The video does not provide spoken instructions; steps are based entirely on visual observation.
- The exact order and direction of folding individual inner facets rely on tactile alignment along pre-existing pleat memory rather than explicit numbering.
- The opening card displays “2002”; its meaning has not been independently verified, so it is not presented here as a collection launch or design year.
- This demonstration depends on the permanent folds of this particular garment and is not a general folding method for all skirts.

## Source and license

Original video: [Collections in Motion: Folding Miyake Long Skirt](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNmUTnLHgJk)

Creator: Cooper Hewitt

License: [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/) · [Historical license record](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Collections_in_Motion-_Folding_Miyake_Long_Skirt.webm)

Notes generated, translated and reviewed by VidQuire, with wording and timestamp edits. Cover still extracted from the source video. No affiliation or endorsement.