Paris Fashion Week Men’s Fall 2022 wrapped up on Sunday, January 23rd, with one of the most anticipated shows of the season being Nigo’s debut as artistic director of Kenzo. Nigo, the global streetwear superstar that is best known for founding the Japanese brand A Bathing Ape, was appointed by LVMH in September of 2021.
Image Credit: KENZO
The measure of the buzz of a designer’s debut season is based on the calibre of who the front row guests are. The front row at Nigo’s debut show for Kenzo was essentially a menswear version of Mount Rushmore. We saw the likes of Pharrell, J Balvin, Julia Fox, Ye, Tyler, the Creator, and Pusha T, all dressed to the nines. Stuck in the middle of this iconic group was Nigo himself. A new generation of celebrities made an appearance as well, including TikToker Avani, Euphoria star Dominic Fike, rapper Gunna, and British music artists Shygirl and Bree Runway.
Image Credit: KENZO
Nigo being one of the most influential names in streetwear, the industry was expecting Nigo’s Kenzo to be another high-end brand going through an underground revamp. Nigo has other plans for the brand. Nigo has tapped into Kenzo’s earliest archives of the late designer, Kenzo Takada, bringing a fresh perspective. Nigo stated that his vision for the label is “a meeting between the Maison’s heritage and my own contemporary codes”. The pieces from this collection are the perfect combination of Nigo’s upbringing and career with the heritage of Kenzo Takada while transcending cultural and conventional dress codes.
Image Credit: KENZO
The fashion show took place at the shopping arcade Galerie Vivienne – where Kenzo Takada presented his very first fashion show in 1970. Nigo featured an exclusive preview of his upcoming album, I Know Nigo, with appearances from big names like A$AP Rocky, Kid Cudi, Pharrell Williams, Pusha T, Teriyaki Boyz, Tyler, The Creator and Lil Uzi Vert.
Image Credit: KENZO
Something so intriguing about this latest collection was how straightforward the pieces are. The collection consisted of knits, overcoats, shearling jackets, colourful suits, berets and baker boy caps, and workwear. Many of the cheery prints were originally designed by house founder Kenzo Takada that Nigo dug out from the archives for this collection.
Nigo’s Kenzo is making great clothe and it’s letting his fandom put their own freaky spin on them.
Published by HOLR Magazine.