Pioneering Japanese fashion designer Hanae Mori, who gained international acclaim for her designs themed on "East meets West," died on Aug. 11 of old age at her Tokyo home, her office said. She was 96.The fashion trailblazer, known for her butterfly motifs, became the first Japanese person to be listed as an official "haute couture" designer in Paris in 1977. Mori presented her collections for decades in Japan and abroad until retiring in 2004.Mori's career included designing a white gown for Japanese Empress Masako worn during wedding celebrations for her marriage to Emperor Naruhito in 19…READ FULL ARTICLE
