KENZO X H&M
On the 3rd
November, the KENZO X H&M collaboration will be going live both in store
and online, at 0900 hours and as previews have suggested, will bring luxe
street wear, bold graphic prints and the famous embroidered tiger motif right
to the high street at affordable process.
WHY DID H&M CHOOSE KENZO?
According to Ann-Sofie
Johansson, creative director at H&M, “We can’t wait to share with everyone
the world of Kenzo X H&M, with all of its creativity, fun and love of
fashion.”
HOW THE COLLECTION CAME ABOUT?
“It would be really
great to take the pieces from the archive and celebrate those pieces along with
pieces we created in our first collection and have a true collection and have a
true conversation between us and Kenzo Takada.” –Humberto Leon
WHAT CAROL LIM & HUMBERTO LEON HAD TO SAY
ABOUT THIS COLLABORATION?
The creative
Directors begin by saying, “With this collaboration with H&M, we want to
think big, push the boundaries and bring the new energy of KENZO to everyone
around the world.”
“In the five years
that Carol and I have been at Kenzo, we’ve wanted to make sure that our
customers know that we didn’t invent this brand,” Leon explains to Vogue.
“We’re almost hitting the 50th anniversary. What Kenzo Takada began
was so revolutionary; it’s what attracted us to the brand to begin with. The
idea is to celebrate where he began and where we’ve taken it– not only the
archive of what he did but what we’ve worked on. We’re taking a look at how the
two can merge in a true conversation.”
Furthermore, Leon
added: “There’s a femininity, there’s fun. There’s a tactile approach to
techniques and embroideries, embellishments. Those are things he worked hard
on. But it’s not how any of the other French houses approached it. He was very
youthful in his technique.”
WHAT DOES THE BLACK MANNEQUIN MAKE OF THE
COLLECTION?
Just like the
Balmain collection (which can be viewed here), this collection is audacious and
invigorating. It is extremely animated, colourful, bold, youthful, vibrant,
energetic, fun and adventurous. I could go on and tell you how much attitude is
being expressed with this collection in many other words and it still wouldn’t
be enough. What I can tell you is this, IT IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED. I love
that the campaign featured all artists and creatives such as Chance the rapper,
Iman, Rosario Dawson, Isamaya French, Amy Sall, Oko Ebombo and so on to be
ambassadors which reflected the diversity theme the directors were going for
and again paid homage to the shows Kenzo Takada presented on the runway during
the 70s and 80s. These shows usually featured dancers, performers and even
make-believe weddings.
Finally, whilst I
love the fact that they’re delving into the archives for inspiration and
influence, I can’t see it amassing the same frenzy that past collections such
as Balmain and Karl Lagerfeld, have brought to the fashion event, as the
collection really isn’t for everyone. I believe that it has to appeal to your
personal style for you to go out of your way when purchasing anything from the
collection because lets face it; who really wants to be dressed head to toe in
leopard and zebra prints. However, there are pieces included in the collection
that are very wearable and if you simply just want a collectible, I will opt
for the pieces with the tiger motif on them.
THE COLLECTION
If you haven’t seen
the ads/campaigns, below are the featured pieces from the launch.
