KENZO SS 2021 campaign

by

Felipe Oliveira Baptista

For his second campaign for KENZO, Felipe Oliveira Baptista carried on the concept of distance photography – first developed for his Fall-Winter 2020 campaign with photographer Glen Luchford and stylist Jane How.

These are vintage photographs from Glen Luchford’s archives – recreated with the models shot under a similar light than the vintage ones, this time wearing the KENZO Spring-Summer 2021 Collection: Bee a Tiger.

The images take viewers on a photographic trip around the world – from Los Angeles, to Havana, to New York City and Marrakesh – evoking the spirit of ‘Going Places’, during a time when physical travel seems to be a distant reality.

The choice of pictures and styling was selected in order to express Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s vision for KENZO: A youthful nomadic spirit, freedom, diversity, optimism, and a certain idea of KENZO timeless style.

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When it was announced earlier this month that Carol Lim and Humberto Leon would unveil their last collection for Kenzo in Paris, you knew their show would be memorable. It was, in fact, a true spectacle, complete with models, dancers, musicians, and a soulful performance by Solange Knowles.

Kenzo Takada himself sat front row to watch a collection that paid homage to Japan’s ancestral traditions and its breathtaking coasts. The sea was the main source of inspiration for the designers, who invoked the resilient spirit of sailors and super heroes, on the hunt for their next treasure. Mixing traditional sailing motifs with technical fabrics found in scuba diving, Lim and Leon chose neoprene to craft matching jackets and pants, as well as a wet effect creased jersey. Sheer pieces were printed with mermaids, prawns and sea lilies. Ikat prints, sun-bleached denims and liquid look viscose were used for men and women alike, creating a nice harmony between the two lines.

The American designers are famous for merging sportswear with sleeker lines and their reinterpretation of suiting was right on trend. Beautiful pastel tones added softness to the most structured styles, and a sense of romance defined the last womenswear looks, which were surprisingly intricate and embellished. A fully embroidered skirt -covered with stunning pearls and sequins- was worn with a simple cropped blouse and colorful sneakers. It was the perfect illustration of what Lim and Leon have always stood for: a sense of fantasy fused with urban pragmatism.

…

/ Words by Philippe Pourhashemi /

/ Backstage pictures by Merel Hart /

KENZO SS 2021

KENZO SS 2021 campaign

by

Felipe Oliveira Baptista

A TOUCHING FAREWELL AT KENZO

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