Known for its playful designs, KENZO has established itself in the fashion industry as a brand that doesn’t shy away from bizarre combinations and daring motifs. This Spring, Artistic Director Nigo has revived some of Founder Kenzo Takada’s distinguishing marks with a collection that reflects both the Ivy League aesthetic and KENZO’s fascination for the natural world.

Recalling American college mascots, Nigo crafted the collection around two distinct prints: the elephant and the tiger. The first one wants to be a homage to the late fashion designer Takada, as it is said to have been his favorite animal. Inspired by 1950s sailor tattoo imagery, it also represents a good omen as elephants are traditionally considered a symbol of wisdom and nobility, and a representation of good memory – allegedly, a characteristic trait of Takada himself. The tiger, instead, which has been part of the brand DNA since 1975, had already been introduced with this design as part of KENZO’s Fall/Winter 2022 collection. The two motifs are available in a variety of pieces. Both the elephant and the tiger emblems are featured on printed cotton T-shirts on the front and the back, embroidered sweatshirts, and cardigans (with the elephant varsity specifically on jersey items). The elephant series comes in hues of black, white, blue, and pink, while the tiger comes in black, white, red, and green.

Finally, the collection also celebrates values of affection and togetherness, reminding us that we all share the same planet and inspiring us to foster a strong community. To capture these feelings and hopes, KENZO partnered up with photographer Frank Lebon who produced a series of pictures that shined a light on our similarities, our differences, and the strength we gain when we stand together.