For the fourth iteration of its Collection series (which dips into the archives and recreates classic pieces for today), Kenzo cast Parisian artists to celebrate the label’s heritage and relationship to the culture of the city. Kenzo – La Collection Memento N°4 revisits its most vibrant and electrifying prints (think tiger graphics, leopard print, and hyper-realistic tomatoes) in a cheeky nod to its tongue-in-cheek style, with a simple yet lively campaign shot by Campbell Addy that features the creative models posing with giant tomatoes and shopping baskets. For its show in Paris, Kenzo worked with choreographers Paul Sadot and Nqobilé Danseur to create an energetic presentation that featured dancers flaunting the retro-fantastic collection. Additionally, the pieces were made available directly after the show — now that’s something to celebrate!
Kenzo – La Collection Memento N°4 is available online now.
Designed in collaboration with Thélios, the LVMH-owned eyewear maker, Kenzo has released its SS19 eyewear collection at Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles. The fantastic retro assortment of sunglasses mixes the French/Japanese designer’s contemporary city edge with a mellow California vibe, perfect for riding around town or heading to the beach. The combination of vintage cues with futurism is surprisingly effective and gives you an idea of what the Beach Boys would wear if they ever were to pilot a spaceship.
Kenzo has released their Spring/Summer 2019 campaign, shot by the iconic photographer, artist, and filmmaker, David LaChapelle, who is a long-time hero of the French label. Creative directors Humberto Leon and Carol Lim set out to portray a genuine utopia, which the photos reify in their vibrancy and optimism. They were shot at LaChapelle’s studio in Los Angeles where the photographer assembled together with the euphorically colorful streetscapes, urban views, and vibrant outdoor color accents. The photos star models as well as dancers, musicians, students, and even featuring Leon’s own mother, Wendy, in a cameo. Check out the images below~
Kenzo brought the color for its SS19 collection, incorporating bold prints and colorways for a vibrant series of tops and accessories. The collection maintains the French label’s idiosyncratic and dynamic coolness with a fresh burst of energy in the form of pops of color sprinkled throughout the pieces — the perfect items to keep the festivities going into the new year. See for yourself below~
The Kenzo Color Celebration collection is available online now.
Brandblack, launched in 2013, has worked under a sport x fashion “sneakerhead” mantra since the beginning– that is until the rest of fashion caught up with its normcore and streetwear. For Spring/Summer 19, the brand, however, does not back off from its original philosophy and reinforces the concept through a collaboration inspired by photographer Jack Bool.
Word on the street, and social media and everywhere else, is that the rad street fashion of the 90’s is back in style. To say that Billy Dill and David Raysse of the Brandblack are the original cool kids is to say nothing. Raysse has worked at FILA and Adidas, with his father the founder of Kenzo and mother, a model. Both have a background deeply rooted in sneakers, sports, and fashion, and the so-called streetwear was part of their life way before it became mainstream cool.
“It’s lost its meaning,” says Dill in regards to street fashion.” You were in a group; you were in a private club. Now it’s kind of the opposite. Sharing information quickly is great because you’re reaching people quickly, but you’re also sort of losing the tribal aspects and inherent secrecy.” Brandblack however maintains that feeling of intimacy without being a screaming label in their new collection paradoxically dubbed “Kind Warning.”
Jack Bool’s work in the background
Inspired the work of photographer Jack Bool, the duo took a David Lynch-approach– they dove straight into the creative process with only a vague entertainment of the “on the surface” taken directly from Bool’s work. Brandblack adapted the idea from Bool’s photography that portrays the all-Americana life with serene scenes and a mysterious vibe of secrecy to fit their fashion. Instead of being transparent and easy to understand, the brand downplays details and components in its RTW collection. Below the surface one can see innovative and technical ideas disguised in a sport-inspired lifestyle brand. As an example, the chunky sneaker is quite straight forward, but at a closer look it has a sock and extra layers which all add to the overall effect of the shoe.
More prominent and established brands, on the other hand, have been taking existing ideas and parlaying someone’s power over it, including the same chunky shoe idea. Even so, for our duo streetwear is still just as important since it’s a snapshot of what’s going on in the world. However, the difference is that the established brands have a history and experience that is not related to streetwear. “These old brands still have one foot in that seat, they’re not that far removed. And so it’s so convenient for them,” says Raysse. The convenience lies in a mercantile perspective. But what happens when a brand is built on that notion of streetwear the start without an ulterior plan to lean on?
David Raysse
Brandblack has its own theory for this too: “We make interesting products that we really like and are not super concerned with them being hugely commercial products,” says Raysse. As a result, they collaborate with brands like Willy Chavarria that offer a space to work together and an opportunity to try something more interesting. In this manner, the brand has a coherent vibe with one voice that stays true to their philosophy.
Film references from yesteryear served as the chief inspiration behind the latest fall offering from Kenzo — the French-Japanese label recently released a short film to reveal the inspiration behind the S/S18 collection to further show its devotion to turning film to fashion, but one thing at a time. Delicate floral prints were emblazoned on rich pastel fabrics, evocative of film styling of the 70s, while additional prints featured eerie ‘Night of Kenzo’ film poster inspired graphics, proving the designer the latest to take horror to the runway.
KENZO released a dazzling 9-minute video to represent the inspiration behind the Spring/Summer 2018 collection. The clip takes a trip through the psychedelic mind of a photographer tempted by his muse while at a photo shoot with another model.
The soundtrack accompanying the video marks the premiere of KENZO’s first original song, “YO! MY SAINT,” written and performed by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ frontwoman and general downtown icon Karen O, perfectly accompanying the sultry scenes. O worked together with Ana Lily Amirpour on the production of the clip – the final product clearly a result of seamless conversation between a female artist and director.
The inspiration comes from two historic female muses of the brand, Japanese model and actress Sayoko Yamaguchi, and musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, as protagonists in the clip. With a melodramatic, sensual atmosphere of neon pink lights, the film begs the comparison to a 80’s record cover.
Fittingly, a limited-edition vinyl of “YO! MY SAINT” will be available in KENZO stores and online starting January 22.
French brand Kenzo has released a new campaign for its Kenzo Move sneaker series. Shot by French creative photography and video studio 5Fruits, the video campaign stars a group of dancers from around the world performing different styles of dance including tap, hip-hop and ballet, against a colored backdrop — different colors were meant to inspire various types of movement. The resulting display is very groovy, conceptual, and FUN. Each model dons the latest shoe embroidered with the brand’s familiar tiger motif, while the latest release offers new color options including grey, pink, and blue.
The Kenzo Move is available now at Kenzo and online.
Inspired by composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and supermodel Sayoko Yamaguchi, KENZO‘s Spring/Summer 2018 collection took individualism to new heights with strong, enlightened visuals. Combining Japanese baseball with British tradition, the pieces became a more personal contribution to a brand history of mixed patterns and far-out styling.
Primary colors dispersed in zig-zagged patterns and disjointed knits made KENZO‘s Autumn/Winter 2017 look a child-like reflection of fashion’s fun side, its first collection to walk womenswear alongside its unapologetically strong men’s line.
Celebrating the most romantic day of the year, Parisian fashion house KENZO releases a Valentine’s Day capsule collection bursting with love and adoration. The limited edition line features a series of gray jersey pieces printed and embroidered with romantic motifs in bright colors, all made in lightweight, slim fit designs that opt for a laid-back city look. The iconic KENZO tiger, similarly featured in the KENZO x H&M collection, is imagined again with blue and red detailing, boasting a smattering of vibrant hearts and stars. The hoodie, a collection scene-stealer, also features Kenzō Takada’s signature logo on the back, the Japanese-French designer who founded the brand in 1970 and whose “Jungle Jap” style continues to define the brand today.
The KENZO Valentine’s Day collection is available online now.
