Kenzo, Kitsune to be guest designers at Pitti Uomo+Pitti W

Chinese-Peruvian American Humberto Leon and the American of Korean origins Carol Lim were both born in L.A. where they became friends. They achieved success with Opening Ceremony in New York, one of the most influential retail destinations for bold fashion design and then rose to international fame as the creative directors of the historic brand, Kenzo.

On the other side of the ocean, French music producer Gildas Loaëc and Japanese architect Masaya Kuroki created Kitsuné (fox in Japanese): a project in which fashion and music provide the inspiration and the attraction – performance and product define and explain each other.

“Kenzo is one of the most interesting phenomena of recent seasons”, says Lapo Cianchi, the Pitti Immagine Communications and Events Director, “and, to be frank, one of the most amusing. The advent of Humberto Leon and Carol Lim has produced a radical turnaround in just a few months. The founder’s legacy is the inspiring essence rather than a model to reproduce.

“The exoticism of the early collections (such as the anti-naturalistic and symbolic jungle à la Henri Rousseau) has a powerful and liberating effect, the entire design conveys dynamism and energy. These two designers know their customers, they know how to create immediate and special things and how to build a world around their work. It is a democratic, attractive world.

“During the first conversation with Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki a couple of weeks ago”, Mr. Cianchi goes on to say, “we ended up talking almost exclusively about the kind of atmosphere they would like to create in Florence for the premiere showing of their women’s collection.

“It will be a powerful event: for Maison Kitsuné fashion and music express a single, eclectic and highly rhythmic creative project. We didn’t ask them anything about the collection, but we are well acquainted with what they have done up to now: fresh clothes in fine fabrics, with expert tailoring and details, a cool and modern luxe and we are certain that also this collection will be as always chic and contemporary”.

Pitti Immagine