Responsible for caffeinating the Fashion Week crowd in Paris’ Palais Royal, Café Kitsuné (the lovechild of Maison Kitsuné fashion brand) has now opened an outpost in New York’s West Village. Serving coffee, lunch, dinner, viennoiserie, booze, and everything in-between, the cafe is sure to be the next spot to see-or-be-seen.
The recently opened Hudson Street location was designed by the brand’s co-founder, Masaya Kuroki. A modern atmosphere with cosmopolitan and welcoming vibes, the space screams the New Paris. Café Kitsuné is decorated in monochrome tones, proper French Bistrot-veranda chairs (but indoors,) and a Japanese twist. In addition to dining, the cafe will also display the CaféKitsuné collection of tableware, ready-to-wear and accessories.
For the menu, Tokyo chef and Restaurateur, Yuji Tani will be head of the kitchen alongside a French rotating selection of casual wines. Pâtissier Ayako Kurokawa of Burrow is in charge of pastries, cookies, and cakes, and Nicholas Morgenstern of his namesake parlor for seasonal ice creams. New York’s Café Kitsuné is one of the first in the line of global expansion this autumn with more locations around the world slated to arrive.
Café Kitsuné is open now at 550 Hudson Street, NY 10014.
The signature fox logo synonymous with Maison Kitsuné gets a drastic makeover as part of the French label’s ACIDE collection. Made in collaboration with artist and illustrator Christina Zimpel, the new genderless line is a psychedelic interpretation of the beloved animal inspired by various art movements and amplified with vibrant colorways. At the heart of the new collection are the reimagined and reintroduced signature items from the designer, including classic cotton t-shirts, polos, crewnecks sweatshirts, cardigans, and accessories, all emblazoned, of course, with Zimpel’s original rendition of “ACIDE Fox.” Check out some images below.
The collection is now available in Maison Kitsuné stores and online now.
For Fall-Winter 2018 collection, French label Maison Kitsuné revamped Los Angeles brand Brandblack‘s AURA runner ($230) and TABI sandal ($280) with its own seasonal, earthy color palette. The outcome is a nerdy, darling addition to the ugly sneaker-trend, balancing retro-footwear cues and futurism between the two brands.
The two pairs with be sold exclusively at all Maison Kitsuné stores and online starting October 1st.
MR PORTER releases its first collaborative capsule collection with Parisian brand Maison Kitsuné: a two-part drop that features the latter’s signature penchant for putting a French spin on American classics. Inspired by Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film, “The Wind Rises,” which depicts the life of a Japanese aircraft designer during WWII, the collection draws heavy influence from retro travel motifs.
Image: MR PORTER x Maison Kitsuné.
Several pieces, including a short-sleeved button-down and a navy satin bomber jacket, feature a haphazard pattern of primary-colored tourist stickers from locations like New York, Paris, London, and Australia, while an “I heart Maison Kitsuné” T-shirt playfully twists tees that fill souvenir shops in nearly every city around the world. True to Maison Kitsuné form, the collection also features classics like a chambray button-down, a slim-fit Polo shirt, and two-toned penny loafers.
Image: MR PORTER x Maison Kitsuné.
The 18-piece line is one of many collaborations between MR PORTER and high-end labels, wherein brands like Public School and Kingsman design exclusive pieces for the site and will be available in Maison Kitsuné’s Paris location at the end of June, in its Tokyo location in October, and sold online exclusively at MR PORTER.
Though seemingly unrelated, the concepts of gender construction and the lure of South Korea are united in the Autumn/Winter 2015-2016 campaign for Maison Kitsuné.
Image: Pierpaolo Ferrari.
Image: Pierpaolo Ferrari.
The French label, known for its popular music collections and constantly evolving style, reveals its urban-chic reflection of gender identity mixed with the patterns of South Korean pop-culture. The result: a creamy ad campaign by Pierpaolo Ferrari that highlights the best of the label’s new understatedly androgynous line. Conceived by Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki—both co-founders and creative directors with backgrounds in music design and architecture—the collection includes a blue and gray checkered knit, a beige vest outlined in black trim, and classic denim bottoms to offer a Yin and Yang of pieces that mimic and compliment the women’s line.
Image: Pierpaolo Ferrari.
Image: Pierpaolo Ferrari.
Image: Pierpaolo Ferrari.
With a palette of dark neutrals cut through by dashes of red and silver, all set against a pure white backdrop, the campaign plays with optimism and romance in a soft yet passionately strong depiction of love through fashion.
Joining Milk Made’s ever-growing Made Fashion Week, Maison Kitsuné debuted an effortlessly French Spring/Summer 2015 collection that combined bright, retro prints with traditionally-Parisian cuts to create a presentation that was nostalgically humorous and stylishly on-trend.
Thomas Erber with Maison Kisuné founders Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki.
Next week, art exhibitor and fashion savant Thomas Erber welcomes the fourth edition of his world-influencing Le Cabinet De Curiosités series to New York. This year presented by Maison Kitsuné, the event showcases 40 prestigious international brands (ranging from shoemakers Common Projects to jeweler House of Waris), distinct in their savoir-faire and presenting one-of-a-kind pieces, specifically created for this exhibition. In honor of its first opening on American soil, we tried to uncover more about the curious man behind it.
Essential Homme: What is the back story of Le Cabinet De Curiosités—where did the ambition first come from?
Thomas Erber: I used to be a journalist, publisher, and chief editor (Lalouse, lifestyle supplement for Le Monde, Vogue Hommes, Optimum) [where] I specialized in music, trends, creators and unconventional trips [from] all over the world. I decided I wanted to continue my activity as a journalist on my own by creating a contemporary cabinet of curiosities that would permit me to explore all the fields I’ve aways loved, without the corporate obligations of a publisher. Bringing together the creatives I respect and adore, and teaming up with prestigious hosts once a year, was the perfect combination of my passions.
Maison Kitsuné x AMBUSH Design
EH: The idea of the Wunderkammern is very traditional, very aristocratic experience. How have you been able to translate that into the contemporary world in a way that it is organic?
TE: Since [I was] a young teenager, I’ve always been fan of the antique ones. So one day, five years ago, I had the idea to create a truly unique experience that would merge all of my curiosities and make a larger statement about art and the wonderful creatives who make it. Then to follow the traditional rules I needed exceptional pieces. I asked some designers and artists to play the game with me. After curating more or less forty of them, I [requested] that they create an original one-of-a-kind piece or a very limited-edition one. I’m thrilled that the frontiers between art, design, painting are over. I’m grateful for the amazing reception we’ve had since launching; this authentic concept resonates with people. The products are rare and meticulously designed. You can see them, touch them and even purchase them, if you wish.
EH: How much do your retail partners—this time Kitsuné, but in the past colette and Browns—affect this?
TE: I have a long and rich history with all of the retail partnerships I’ve pursued thus far. Sarah (of colette) and I have been friends for many years; the same with Masaya and Gildas of Kitsuné. It seems natural to me to team up with people I truly admire and already have great chemistry with. My approach is to gather the best in every genre or industry represented. It’s truly a collective effort, in my opinion. Without the dynamic hosts and talented guest designers, the cabinet wouldn’t be nearly as captivating or compelling as it [has] become.
Alexandre de Betak’s Stone Pod Speaker, part of this year’s exhibition.
EH: Originally Cabinets of Curiosities laid the stones for the world’s first museums, and in many ways each edition of Le Cabinet De Curiosités is a gallery-experience. How do you balance the idea of artistic appreciation with the aspect of sales?
TE: I honestly don’t think about the sales when I curate this. If you think like that, you’re dead. It’s purely based on pleasure and passion. It is actually meant to be more of an interactive culture event than a commercial one. If we sell items, I’m happy of course, but if not, it’s still a job well done. Mission accomplished.
EH: What are some of the qualities you look for when you’re considering artists and designers to feature?
TE: Honestly, savoir-faire, history, good personality, lack of opportunism, but a real ambition to produce amazing pieces. It might sound naive, but it really works this way! It’s a personal labor of love, based on friendly relationships and a true love for beautiful craftsmanship.
EH: What does menswear mean to you today? Who are some names in particular that you think are propelling it forward?
TE: Since I discovered Vogue Homme in the late 80′s, I’ve always been a huge fan of menswear. The way [a man is] dressed really shows a lot about [him]. We’re lucky to live in such an amazing time for this. Brands like Maison Kitsuné, Maison Charvet, Visvim, Michael Bastian, Officine Generale…they’re creating thoughtful, beautifully-crafted collections. We have enough to feed our cultural and fashionable curiosities as long as we stay alive. Just follow your instinct, don’t look at ads, don’t watch TV. Just walk down the streets and open your eyes.
Men’s oxfords from HALFS.
EH: How much of yourself is in these exhibitions? Do you curate for yourself, or for a specific group?
TE: All of me is, nothing less. I curate the entire experience myself. All the creative guests are friends, or friends of guests, or creative people I’ve met along the road. I often say that to be part of the show I require two things (totally irrational from a business perspective): I need to like them, and I need to admire what they create. I spend my year traveling the world to meet [these people], visiting their studio, and discovering them deeply to be sure they all meet those simple-yet-sincere requirements.
EH: What do you hope the New York man will take away from Le Cabinet De Curiosités?
TE: I hope he is inspired by the collective coolness, the team spirit, our optimism for the future, levity, and fun. I also hope he discovers the talented artists and designers and the products they create. Our hope is to encourage the creation of inspired art and to also encourage the bold artists who put their blood, sweat and tears into their work.
De Gaulle S4 Trolley and Trudeau by WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie
Le Cabinet De Curiosités Of Thomas Erber Hosted by Maison Kitsuné will be on display at The Avant/Garde Diaries (372 Broome St) and at Maison Kitsuné (1170 Broadway) from December 2 until December 23, with items available for purchase online until January 31.
Hip record label and cool-kid outfitters Maison Kitsuné have renewed their collaboration with Pernod Absinthe for a second year, releasing a limited-edition, artfully-printed bottle of the liquor decked out in the Parisian house’s playful aesthetic.
While last year the project was largely focused on fashion and included a capsule collection inspired by the spirit, this year the emphasis is a bit more direct. To honor Pernod, as well as the brand’s own multicultural heritage, Kitsuné created new artwork for the bottle that celebrates globalization in an offbeat, yet still colorful way. As co-founder Gildas Loaëc said, “For this next chapter of our collaboration, I wanted to have a pattern that was more subdued than our bold previous edition. The artwork we created is exactly that: a combination of Japanese refinement, infused with our rock ‘n’ roll sensibility.”
With only 10,000 bottles available globally, of which only 1,000 are available in the United States, the new Maison Kitsuné x Pernod design is certainly a piece you won’t want to miss collecting.
Maison Kitsuné x Pernod bottles ($74.99 USD) are now available for purchase in New York City at Beacon Wines, Liquors and Lowrey’s, and De Lauren Wines & Liquors.
Normally, you’d probably not want to talk into a party dressed exactly as a bottle of alcohol, but when said bottle is Pernod Absinthe and it’s been designed by Maison Kitsuné, normal simply flies out the window. (Also—ingest enough of what’s in that Pernod bottle and you might even begin to see the family of Kitsuné foxes, that inhabit the print on both the bottle and the print, jump off your pants and out the window too.) The artwork, was unveiled on September 7th in New York for the launch of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. The collection, as well as the limited-edition bottles, will be unveiled at Colette during Paris Fashion Week, and then be available for purchase exclusively at the famous concept store on Rue St Honoré. Other initiatives – short film, original music and print visuals – created by Maison Kitsuné, will be released online and within independent movie theaters. In addition, “Pernod Absinthe by Maison Kitsuné” events will take place in Paris, New York, and London in partnership with Le Baron. Only 1805 bottles—the year Pernod began—will be made available. (See the bottle after the jump)
We love Maison Kitsune for many reasons, none more than for how well they blend style and music. In this video previewing a few of their Fall/Winter 2012 looks, they’ve enlisted french fashion director Loïc Prigent to shoot a “dressing battle of the sexes” betweeen model Elena and model Boris. Its Friday—take a break and watch this minute and a half video and see what you learn. Our revelations are below.
1—Boys get dressed and undressed faster than girls.
2—Head to toe Khaki can look cool.
3—Their new album, Kitsune America, will be an integral part of our early summer playlist.
More images of the collection and links to purchase the album can be found here: kitsune.fr
Oui cannot wait! The first ever Maison Kitsuné boutique on American shores is scheduled to open on April 12th in New York City inside the NoMad Hotel. The store, designed by New York based TBD Architects, will take cues from the Haussmann architecture of the 7th arrondissement—a nouveau classic Parisian apartment if you will. Alongside their own brand’s wares, Maison Kitsuné’s founders Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki have hand-selected goods from WANT Les Essentiels de la Vie, Monocle, Michel Vivien and Aesop to feature in the store. And if that wasn’t enough, expect to find exclusive creations for the store with designers like esteemed French shoe-maker J.M Weston. Oui! C’est vrai!
