Ms. Lam Montessori School Teachers Wear Yamasaki Takashi Uniforms

Employees at a Mandarin-immersion Montessori school in Brooklyn wearing pleated garments that sparked online curiosity actually wear uniforms produced by the Taiwan-based brand Yamasaki Takashi, udn.com reported. The school, Ms. Lam Montessori School located at Berry Street and North 8th Street in the Williamsburg neighborhood, charges an annual tuition of approximately $40,000 and has operated since starting in Taiwan.

Williamsburg School Uniforms Draw Online Attention

A local resident posted on Reddit questioning whether the staff members at the Brooklyn campus were required to wear Issey Miyake designs as a daily uniform, noting confusion and mild envy over the look. That post drove hundreds of users to examine the school’s social media channels, where they found numerous images and videos of teachers wearing garments resembling the Japanese designer brand’s signature pleated items. Head of school Stephanie Woo appeared in an Instagram video wearing a pleated dress from a similar line retailing for $730.

Yamasaki Takashi Brand Details and Practical Purpose

School officials clarified on Instagram that the garments are not designer pieces but rather uniforms from Yamasaki Takashi, a brand established in Tokyo in 1976 by the designer of the same name and currently distributed through commercial operations managed by Taiwan’s Yangsheng Enterprise Co., Ltd. Woo stated that the school purchases the uniforms centrally for $120 to $150 per piece, having used them in Taiwan for about 12 years and in New York for approximately eight years.

The administration selected the brand because the fabric resists wrinkles, withstands frequent washing, and remains durable as teachers kneel, lift, and pour water alongside young children. Additionally, the distinctive garments allow toddlers in bustling school environments to easily identify staff members they can approach for help, creating consistency for children who transition between campuses or attend summer camps in Taiwan.

In the Montessori classroom, adults are part of the environment we prepare for children, just like the bookshelves and learning materials. Teachers are kneeling, hugging, pouring water, and engaging with the children all day long.

Ms. Lam Montessori School