Kenzo (brand)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Founder | Kenzo Takada |
| Headquarters | Paris , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Nigo (artistic director, 2021–present) |
| Products | Apparel, accessories, fragrances |
| Owner | LVMH |
| Parent | LVMH |
| Website | www |
Kenzo S.A. (branded as KENZO PARIS) is a French luxury fashion house established in 1970 by the Japanese designer Kenzo Takada, currently under the ownership of LVMH.
Kenzo Takada, 1970–1998
Kenzo Takada, originally from Japan, relocated to Paris in 1964 to pursue a career in fashion. Renowned for merging Asian aesthetics with European styles, he inaugurated the 'Jungle Jap' store within Galerie Vivienne, decorated with jungle-themed elements. His debut collection was crafted using $200 worth of discounted fabrics sourced from Montmartre. Following a 1976 fashion event in New York, the brand adopted the name Kenzo, as the original title was deemed inappropriate for the American audience.
By 1983, Kenzo had introduced menswear lines, expanding further into children's apparel and home goods by 1987, and entering the fragrance market in 1988.
Facing personal hardships and business difficulties in 1990, Takada chose to sell his company. In 1993, luxury group LVMH purchased Kenzo for around $80 million. Starting in 1995, Kenzo launched Kenzo Studio through a licensing agreement with the Bonaventure Group, focusing on U.S. and Chinese markets while retaining creative control over the fashion direction.
Kenzo Takada retired from the fashion industry in 1999 at age 60.
Later years
Between 1999 and 2003, Gilles Rosier and Roy Krejberg were responsible for the women's and men's collections, respectively.
From 2006 to 2008, Kenzo undertook renovations of more than 100 retail outlets worldwide. Antonio Marras held the position of creative director from 2008 until 2011, managing all creative aspects of the brand. By 2011, annual sales reached roughly 150 million euros ($197.4 million), though profitability remained marginal.
In 2011, Carole Lim and Humberto Leon from Opening Ceremony were appointed as co-creative directors. They rejuvenated Kenzo’s image, appealing to a younger demographic and broadening their creative responsibilities to cover all facets of the brand beyond apparel design.
By 2017, accessories and footwear contributed nearly 30% to Kenzo’s total revenue. Lim and Leon exited their roles in 2019. That same year, Kenzo terminated its distribution partnership with I.T, reclaiming control over its network of 35 stores in China through a joint venture.
Under Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s leadership as creative director (2019–2021), Kenzo introduced the Kenzo Sport collection for both men and women. In April 2021, it was announced that he would depart by June.
In September 2021, Nigo—founder of A Bathing Ape—was named artistic director at Kenzo, signaling a strategic shift towards integrating streetwear elements within the luxury sector.
Other activities
From 2010 until 2018, Kenzo collaborated with French eyewear manufacturer L'Amy to produce and distribute its glasses collections.
Locations
Following its reentry into the U.S. market, Kenzo operated six stores as of June 2021:
- Wynn Las Vegas - 3131 Las Vegas Blvd
- New York City, The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards - 20 Hudson Yards
- SoHo, Manhattan - 107 Grand Street
- Beverly Center - 8500 Beverly Blvd
- Cabazon - 48400 Seminole Dr
- Woodbury Commons (New York)
After exiting the U.S. market in the early 2000s—closing flagship locations in Los Angeles (2002) and New York (2003)—Kenzo reestablished its American presence by opening a new flagship store in SoHo, Manhattan in June 2020. Globally, Kenzo operates close to 145 retail outlets, predominantly across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe.
Role in popular culture
The BBC comedy series My Family features a character named Kenzo Harper, inspired by the brand. In 2012, designers Humberto Leon and Carol Lim introduced a knitted tiger sweater as part of Kenzo's Autumn collection. Although initially met with hesitation by the design team, these tiger sweatshirts rapidly became a sensation, selling out within hours at Kenzo’s Paris boutique. Since their debut, this distinctive design has been widely adopted by celebrities and trendsetters such as Jay Z, Beyoncé, Selena Gomez, Rihanna, among others.
Collaborations
Kenzo partnered with H&M in 2016 to release the Kenzo X H&M collection on November 3 of that year. The brand also collaborates with Inglot Cosmetics, a company specializing in makeup products. On March 21, 2018, Kenzo revealed Britney Spears as the face of its 'La Collection Memento No. 2' campaign. Promoted under the hashtag #KenzoLovesBritney, this collection highlights nostalgic denim ready-to-wear items designed for both men and women.
Campaigns
Throughout its history, Kenzo has engaged renowned photographers for its advertising campaigns, including Jean-Baptiste Mondino (1996–1999), David LaChapelle (2019), and Keizō Kitajima (2024).
For the Fall 2014 season, filmmaker David Lynch contributed both a soundtrack and a sculpture to the presentation. The Fall/Winter 2016 campaign film titled The Realest Real was directed by Carrie Brownstein and featured Laura Harrier, Mahershala Ali, Natasha Lyonne, and Rowan Blanchard. Additionally, that year filmmaker Sean Baker created a short film named Snowbird for Kenzo SS16 starring model Abbey Lee.
In 2023, Kenzo appointed Vernon, a member of the South Korean boy band Seventeen, as its inaugural global ambassador.
Designers
- Kenzo Takada, 1970–2020
- Gilles Rosier, 2000–2004
- Antonio Marras, 2004–2011
- Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, 2012–2019
- Felipe Oliveira Baptista, 2019–2021
- Nigo, 2021–present