The founder of Kenzo past away in the pandemic due to health problems after getting the virus, and it was shocking for a lot of us to hear that notice. The lack of creative director in charge resulted in the skip of the SS22, it was tragic and when the brand announced the new creative director we were so excited to know about him. Nigo was the one to receive such a difficult task to overcome the sad news. On top of that he was launched into the fashion world for the first time, where some have already form his opinion an taste based on the styling of the artist.
For the release of his first collection with the iconic and established brand, he is going to put out through the season different drops of the collection but under a same concept. Different pieces, same idea behind. Firstly, he wanted to give to the high fashion consumers some clothes with the known poppy print reinterpreted by the new creative. Also, this way of selling the collection is inspired by the first one that the original creator put out to the general public, which was selling as soon as possible to generate revenue for upcoming projects. The campaign is shoot in Paris by Thurstan Redding and wants to transmit real-to-wear type of clothing.
The show back in January was set in the location of the first shop and runway show of Kenzo himself. He want to start over with the brand, mark a before and after of his entrance as the creative director. His take on the DNA of the brand is to revive the aesthetic of the 50s and 60s in a 80s ways, but with a 2020s taste over it. It gives past fashion with streetwear elements that are so prominent in the present days. Is a conversation between clichés from the streets and high fashion history. It resulted in a collection where the Japanese cuts and silhouettes give serenity, in contraposition to the prints that are all over the collection and show a wide range of colors. The designer was trying to find an identity as an outsider and he surely did.
Alvaro Ramos