Overnight, renowned streetwear designer Nigo officially ushered in his time as creative director of Kenzo, with his debut collection titled ‘Real-to-Wear’ showing in Paris for Fall Winter 22. Having taken over the role from Felipe Oliviera Baptista, the appointment makes Nigo the first Japanese designer to front the house since founder Kenzo Takada; making him one of only two Asian creative directors helming a European luxury house.
Nigo is credited with innovating streetwear globally, elevating the genre through his independent clothing label, A Bathing Ape. The brand was launched in Tokyo in 1993 and merged the worlds of fashion and music, before the founder left the brand in 2011 after launching Human Made in 2010.
Having combed through the Kenzo archives, Nigo came across pieces unknown to him with the approach to his sophomore Fall Winter 22 collection to showcase a study of individual pieces over looks. Rather than developing a collection completely based on streetwear or luxury, the designer melded the two together, combining themes of the archives to convey his perception of the brand.
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The presentation was an exhibition of the creative director defining his vision for Kenzo, with the collection blending house heritage with contemporary edge. Takada’s famed three-button jacket silhouette is peppered throughout the collection, alongside coverall jackets and workwear adorned with Kenzo’s archival Poppy Print engaging in the idea of practical workwear; a key idea of Nigo’s.
Berets stitched with the year of Kenzo’s founding sat atop model’s heads in an homage to the cultural clichés of France. High kimono jackets in navy, olive and gray also featured alongside bibbed gingham aprons in an apparent adaptation of a Japanese garment worn during the tea ceremony.
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The show was soundtracked to an exclusive preview of the designer’s upcoming album I Know Nigo with artists on rotation including A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Kid Cudi and Tyler, the Creator.
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