After taking the creative reins a year ago, Nigo embarked on a wild adventure inspired by the Ivy League spirit for Kenzo SS2023. This sophomore collection fuses the graphic codes of the brand and the founder Kenzo Takada’s love for nature. By scouring the Maison’s archives, Nigo’s Kenzo Varsity Jungle collection seamlessly merged Takada’s 1980s portfolio with contemporary streetwear trends from Japan, America, and Britain, achieving a balance between traditional Japanese design codes and classic American workwear.
A Tribute to Kenzo Takada
In this latest collection, the elephant and tiger prints take centre stage, paying homage to Takada and his legacy. Takada was especially fond of elephants, which are known to have the best memory of any animal. He enjoyed including elephants in his collections as both a motif and a symbol, and Nigo has taken this concept and given it new life. The elephant design took inspiration from 1950s sailor tattoo imagery, while the tiger design debuted in KENZO’s Fall/Winter 2022 collection.
The elephant varsity wardrobe features a printed cotton T-shirt with a graphic applied to the front and back. It also includes an embroidered jersey sweatshirt and a jersey cardigan. These items are available in black, white, blue, and pink. Meanwhile, the tiger varsity includes a printed T-shirt with a graphic on the front and back, as well as an embroidered sweatshirt and cardigan, available in black, white, red, and green.
To promote the launch of the Varsity Jungle collection, Kenzo has teamed up with talented photographer Frank Lebon. The campaign celebrates the togetherness and sense of community embodied by the collection’s iconic Tiger and Elephant designs. Lebon’s visuals feature a vibrant crew of characters, styled to perfection to project an irresistible sense of camaraderie.
The Kenzo Varsity Jungle collection is set to hit Asia stores in April 2023. So mark your calendars, fashionistas! This is an opportunity you don’t want to miss. With these striking pieces, you can effortlessly embrace the spirit of the Ivy League while paying tribute to Takada’s legacy. And who knows, you might just create some unforgettable memories while wearing them.