Born in 1958, Sendai City, Japan, Yoshiki Hishinuma studied at Bunka College of Fashion before working at Miyake Design Studio. He then became a freelance designer, specialising in theater and stage costumes. In the 1980s he produced uniquely shaped clothes using wind and air, which he called "Kite Clothes" and "Air Clothes". He designed many other costumes with highly original shapes. In 1987, he opened a studio and in 1992 began designing under his own name. When Hishinuma was unable to procure textiles that were to his liking, he began experimenting with natural and chemical processes to alter the finish and form of synthetic fabrics. In 1996, he was awarded the Mainichi Prize for Fashion. An exhibition of his works designed over the last ten years was held in 1999 at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag in the Netherlands. In 2000, he was in charge of costume design for an original ballet production being held by Nederlands Dans Theater, "Arcimboldo 2000".