Nigo debuts preppy pieces created with archival fabrics for his second Kenzo collection
For Kenzo spring/summer 2023, artistic director Nigo unveiled womenswear and menswear in a presentation replicating Kenzo Takada’s 1980s sports day-themed show. Honouring the late designer, Nigo utilised silhouettes and motifs from the Kenzo archives alongside his own interpretation of House codes. The patchwork flags throughout the space reference the blending of two chapters while garments came adorned in past Kenzo labels. Not stopping there, he re-worked fabrics and prints – or, in the case of the pixel rose camo, copied it exactly – from 1992, 1988 and 1993 collections.
Building on his youth-driven debut collection, Nigo fuses Japan’s ’80s subcultures and whimsical cartoons with a Japanese view of Paris’ fashion landscape. Kenzo spring/summer 2023 is preppy, youthful and optimistic with collegiate silhouettes, patchwork knits and plenty of nautical influences – think sailor collars, stripes and neckerchiefs. See all the looks in the gallery above and rewatch the show below.
