The days draw closer to Nigo’s debut AW22 collection.
Nigo was appointed creative director at Kenzo last September. His much anticipated first collection just made its debut at Paris’ Galerie Vivienne, bringing the brand full circle. Kenzo, a brand started by Japan’s Kenzo Takada, displayed its first collection in the covered passage of Galerie Vivienne way back in 1970, the same year the brand started. This opening cemented Kenzo as a pioneer of Japanese-French fusion, a theme that Nigo intends to continue with Kenzo, following Takada’s death in 2020.
The original 1970 show was dubbed “Jungle Jap” and featured a camouflage and jungle-themed background – a novelty at the time. In an interview with WWD, Nigo declared that he wanted to return the “fun” to Kenzo, and one of the ways he intends to do this is through Nigo’s own interactions with camouflage, one of the key features of his brand, BAPE.
Kenzo has toyed with camo and jungle themes since its inception, as evidenced in this cloud camo jacket, one of the pieces that make up the penultimate collection before Nigo is fully at the helm.
Nigo’s debut ready-to-wear collection is expected to launch soon, where high fashion influences are seamlessly blended with a streetwear feel.
For the time being, John Anthony has stocked some of Kenzo’s final non-Nigo pieces, where the passing of an era and the seeds of Kenzo’s future can be seen.
