KENZO fashion
No doubt about it, KENZO is en vogue! The French fashion and cosmetics house, made world famous by Japanese Kenzo Takada in the 1970s with a daring mix of streetwear and haute couture, is once again in the spotlight. The label recently caused a sensation with fluorescent tiger sweaters, Eiffel Tower shirts, and prints with jungle motifs. The new designer collections are young, modern, and very cool.
East meets West: Asia meets European flair
In 1965, when Kenzo Takada came to Paris after graduating from the Tokyo Fashion School, at first no one was seriously interested in the young designer. It was a long way to the honorary knighthood “Ordre des Arts et des Lettres”, which began in 1970 with a brilliant fashion show. He presented his collections, which were strongly influenced by the Asian ethnic style, amidst a wild jungle of plants. That same year, the very shy designer opened his first boutique, “Jungle Jap”, in Paris at Galerie Vivienne. The KENZO fashion house started in 1976 at Place des Victoires which is still the company's headquarters and flagship store today.
In the meantime, the US designers Humberto Leon and Carol Lim are responsible for the creative work, after the old master withdrew completely from the fashion business in 2000. Their fresh designs are a tongue-in-cheek homage to the fashion cosmos of the design genius: cool, poppy and very trendy. Inspired by KENZO’s almost inexhaustible imaginative as well as impressionistic influences on the fashion of his time, they project digital pattern worlds and color play on huge art objects. The multimedia productions are artistically sophisticated and are particularly fun for a young, creative target group of buyers. The popular jungle theme is reinterpreted again and again: sometimes with animal prints in neon colors, with graphic elements, and in camouflage style.
The women's collections are purist and linear, with black & white or a wild mix of patterns on short box tops and kimono blouses, on sophisticated slit skirts, dresses and culottes. The men's dress code: New silhouettes, clean cuts with pop art designs, cheeky slits, letter prints and wide block stripes turn big boys into modern big city samurais.
KENZO fashion is inspired by dreams, fairy tales and myths
The man who once turned a plain canvas shoe into a precious sneaker, and made it a suit accessory suitable for business, left the post of chief designer 30 years after founding his brand. He sold his Paris fashion house to the luxury goods group LVMH back in 1993. But even at the age of 75, he was still quite active. The Japanese multi-talent became a successful painter, furniture and art connoisseur, jewelry and yacht designer. His legacy lives on and today should be viewed as a work of art in its entirety. A universe of colors, flowers and South Sea magic as well as a mix of the most diverse influences. His circus ring parades and presentations in front of exotic backdrops are legendary. KENZO was a brilliant storyteller who realized his artistic vision of freedom and independence in his fashion. Now, the current collections for women, men and kids tell the story of the company’s founder, a Japanese in Paris, with wit, esprit, dynamism and spontaneity. They tell new, exciting and fabulous fashion stories from the land of the rising sun.
