Click here to subscribe for free<\/a>!<\/p>\n When one thinks of the name Kenzo, images of bright abstract designs and an eye-catching colour palette instantly come to mind. After all, the French fashion house has long been associated with vibrant tones, zany prints and athleisure. Behind the label\u2019s reputation for neon hues and swirling patterns stands the thoughtful and practical Kenzo Takada. Born in Himeji, Japan, the 78-year-old designer moved to Paris in the 1960s to establish his eponymous label. Although Takada retired as creative director in 1999, his influence has stayed as a driving force of his namesake label. In fact, Takada recently announced a new project with French interior design retailer Roche Bobois. While the creative force\u2019s roots may be on the runway, he believes that the worlds of home interiors and fashion are closely linked.
\n \u201cBoth worlds work on combining different textiles and materials, and finding out how they best blend together. Fashion and interior design are about creating harmony between all the different elements,\u201d Takada says.
\n Takada has re-interpreted Roche Bobois\u2019 signature Mah Jong sofa, and also created a line of home accents, which includes cushions, throws, rugs and ceramics. Drawing on his Japanese background,, Takada was inspired by the craftsmanship of traditional kimonos, especially the weaving that can be spotted at the country\u2019s N\u014d musical drama theatres.
\n \u201cI have created three harmonious color schemes that express gentleness, vivacity and depth, coinciding with three different times of the day: ASA (morning), HIRU (midday) and YORU (evening),\u201d Takada says.
\n Achieving harmony seems to be one of the designer\u2019s key values, whether in business or in life. Takada graduated from Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo in 1964, as one of the school\u2019s first male students. In 1965, he shifted to the City of Light, where he initially encountered some difficulties. \u201cThe two biggest challenges when I started to establish myself in France were for me not being able to speak French and being Japanese,\u201d he recalls. However, Takada was determined to overcome cultural differences and find a place for himself in his home\u2014 and within the Parisian fashion industry.
\n \u201cAt that time, the Europeans mostly knew Japan through the clich\u00e9 of the \u2018Japanese tourist.\u2019 We were not known for fashion. Also in Japan, people were telling me that no Japanese would be able to work and succeed in France. At the beginning, I was only supposed to stay for six months, but it has been more than 50 years,\u201d he says.
\n Takada made his mark by creating sketches and selling them to local French designers, including Louis F\u00e9raud. However, he also remained devoted to his dream of establishing his own label. In 1970, Takada launched Jungle Jap, an early line that combined his Japanese heritage with funky, fashionable elements. \u201cI realized I had to go back to my own roots. I decided to incorporate some influence from traditional kimonos, patterns and Japanese techniques and know-how into my designs, as well as drawing on different cultures,\u201d the designer says.
\n Back then, Takada was trying to develop his brand identity and his own identity as a rising designer. Today, it\u2019s safe to say that Kenzo\u2019s design aesthetic has stayed true to Takada\u2019s humble origins and spirit. \u201cI like to blend different textiles, patterns and inspiration. This is the way I work. I bring Japanese and other cultural references into my work, as well as a generous dose of happiness and joyful spirit.\u201d
\n At close to 80 years of age, Takada\u2019s relentless energy and passion come across as nothing short of impressive. He describes himself as \u201ca very curious person\u201d and somebody who is \u201ceager to learn something new every day.\u201d
\n With his decades of experience, Takada also reflects on the evolving landscape of the business. Since Kenzo\u2019s brave debut in 1970, technology, social media and changing consumer behaviours have impacted the fashion industry.
\n \u201cNowadays, the fashion world is faster and more ephemeral, so it is a challenge to remain visible. You need to be more reactive, because of the \u201csee now, buy now\u201d model. Fashion brands have to adapt to this new business model and have to stock in advance. What you see in a fashion show needs to be available the next day for the consumers,\u201d he declares.
\n Takada may find contemporary inspiration from working with his \u201cyoung, talented and creative team,\u201d but his creative influences also span everything from film and travel to his own fashion inspirations. These include the formidable Yves Saint Laurent, whom Takada professes a longtime admiration for that dates back to his student days. Although Saint Laurent died in 2008, Takada had an opportunity to work with the pioneering French designer and later became a close friend.
\n Half a decade after his move to Paris, Kenzo (and Takada) are anything but the new kids on the fashion block. The designer was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Fashion Editors\u2019 Club of Japan earlier this year, for the third time. This is an accomplishment that Takada graciously describes as \u201calways an honour.\u201d
\n \u201cI was very lucky my whole life to be able to do what I wanted and do it freely. I owe my success to the public and the media, to all the people who believed in me and supported me through my entire career,\u201d he adds.
\n To wit, Kenzo\u2019s designs have been spotted on many celebrity style icons over the years. From superstar Beyonc\u00e9 donning the label\u2019s iconic tiger sweatshirt, to former First Lady Michelle Obama famously sporting a yellow Kenzo frock on a trip to Japan, it\u2019s no secret that the brand has a devoted fan base. However, Kenzo\u2019s versatility remains one of its greatest strengths, at least in the opinion of its founder.
\n \u201cStars have worn my designs, but I have never worked with one exclusively or had a muse. I always had a democratic approach to design. My designs are meant for everyone; this is how I pretty much initiated the concept of \u201cpr\u00eat-\u00e0-porter\u201d in the fashion world,\u201d Takada explains.
\n This becomes evident after a glance at the Kenzo Fall 2017 collection, where the label\u2019s current co-creative directors Humberto Leon and Carol Lim have presented oversized printed parkas adorned with checkered prints. Elsewhere, belted military jackets, black and white fringed skirts and reinvented windbreakers all lend a chic feel to a utilitarian, functional line. Clearly, this all pays homage to Takada\u2019s passion for comfort and colour\u2014not to mention his insistence on wearabilily.
\n Musing on the definition of style, Takada\u2019s answer summarizes the mindset that has ruled Kenzo and seen its rise over the years. \u201cFor me, great style is defined by harmony,\u201d he says.
\n From a boy growing up in Himeji with dreams of Paris, to the modern day icon whose label has collaborated with the likes of H&M, it\u2019s clear that Takada has truly found the harmony he has searched for, both on the catwalk, and away from the spotlight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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