David E. Sugar
| Company type | Société par actions simplifiée (SAS) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion, music production, hospitality |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Gildas Loaëc, Masaya Kuroki |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
| Products | Ready-to-wear apparel, music, cafés, restaurants |
| Website | maisonkitsune |
The French company Kitsuné, organized as a Société par actions simplifiée (SAS) and operating under the trade name Maison Kitsuné (), is a multifaceted lifestyle brand established in 2002 by Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki. Maison Kitsuné encompasses various domains, including fashion, music production, art exhibitions, as well as a global network of cafés and dining establishments.
The term "Kitsuné" is derived from the Japanese word kitsune (hiragana: ; kanji: ), which translates to "fox." In Japanese culture, the fox is a symbol of adaptability and transformation, qualities that mirror the brand’s broad spectrum of ventures. The kitsune motif is a recurring theme in their ready-to-wear apparel lines. The sub-brands Kitsuné Musique and Café Kitsuné specifically denote their music label and coffeehouse franchises respectively.
History
Maison Kitsuné originated in 2002 as a music label founded by Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki in Paris. The partnership began after the two met at Loaëc’s record store, a hotspot for house music fans including members of Daft Punk. Following a collaborative trip to Japan for a music video project, they developed Maison Kitsuné into a lifestyle brand that fuses elements of Parisian and Tokyo culture through both fashion and music. Their initial brand exposure came through DJ sets before launching their first clothing items, leading to a comprehensive ready-to-wear collection by 2005, which now represents 90% of their sales revenue.
In 2013, Maison Kitsuné ventured into the hospitality sector by opening Café Kitsuné in Tokyo. The brand’s first café-restaurant in Paris debuted in 2019. Since then, the café chain has expanded to 26 outlets worldwide, including major cities such as Tokyo, Paris, New York City, London, Vancouver, and Shanghai.
From 2025 onward, Maison Kitsuné plans to shutter its physical retail locations in the United States to concentrate on online sales and wholesale partnerships.
Artists
- Adam Sky
- Alan Braxe & Fred Falke
- Allen French
- Appaloosa
- Arona Mane
- autoKratz
- Beau
- Beni (Australian musician)
- Big Face
- Bitchee Bitchee Ya Ya Ya
- Black Strobe
- Bloc Party
- Boys Noize
- Brwn
- Buscabulla
- Carter Reeves
- Cazals
- Chela
- Chew Lips
- Chong the Nomad
- Citizens!
- Classixx
- Crystal Fighters
- Cut Copy
- David E. Sugar
- Delia Dane
- Delphic
- Digitalism
- DJ Gregory
- Dot
- Fischerspooner
- Giraffage
- Guns 'n' Bombs
- Hadouken!
- Haiva Ru
- HeartsRevolution
- Housse de Racket
- Is Tropical
- Joe and Will Ask?
- Khazali
- Kilo Kish
- Klaxons
- Kowloon
- Kydd Jones
- La Roux
- LD Donovan
- Le Corps Mince de Françoise
- Les Gordon
- Lifelike
- Life On Planets
- Localblac
- Lomeli
- Luc de la Croixx
- Manast LL'
- Mark Ronson
- Matveï
- Mija (DJ)
- Milwin
- MnkyBsnss
- Monterosso
- Moonlight Matters
- Mothxr
- Moullinex
- MyNameIsLeonidas
- Napkey
- Parcels
- Pat Lok
- Phoenix (French band)
- Pink Skies
- Pyramid
- Real Bad Man
- Savi Minds
- Solå
- Tasha the Amazon
- Taylor Bense
- The Undercover Dream Lovers
- Tim Ayre
- Tkay Maidza
- Two Door Cinema Club
- XXX (group)
- Yaeji
- Years & Years
- Yelle
- You Love Her