KENZO x LEVI’S®: The intersection of Eastern and Western aesthetics, a denim fashion wardrobe that combines tradition and innovation. KENZO and Levi’s® launched the 2023 autumn capsule series on September 29, 2023. This is the first cross-brand collaboration created by artistic director Nigo for KENZO, perfectly integrating the cultural traditions of the Paris fashion house and American-style clothing. This joint denim series was jointly designed and launched by Nigo and Levi’s®, showing the continuous integration of traditional oriental clothing and American classic workwear concepts. This is also the collision concept of Eastern and Western cultures held by KENZO art director Nigo. This capsule series will be available in selected KENZO stores around the world, selected Levi’s® stores, and the KENZO.com and Levi.com websites.
KENZO x Levi’s®
The entire capsule series includes more than 20 pieces of clothing and accessories, mainly made of Kaihara high-grade Japanese denim. It also reflects the REAL TO WEAR fashion perspective expanded by artistic director Nigo after joining KENZO. As an avid vintage collector, he has a large collection of American denim clothing in Japan, including original workwear designed by Levi Strauss & Co. for cowboys and miners. Nigo’s passion for denim and its role in fashion history reflect Mr. Kenzo’s passion for creating the KENZO JEANS product line in 1986 to convey the spontaneity and free spirit that denim presents to people. A variety of factors are intertwined and combined to create this unique fashionable denim wardrobe – it combines American style, Japanese tailoring and inherits the style genes of Mr. Takada Kenzo. It is this inheritance that gave birth to this KENZO Chemical reaction with Levi’s®.
KENZO x Levi’s®
The core concept of KENZO x Levi’s® is the encounter between Eastern and Western cultures, which is brilliantly presented in this advertising campaign shot in Kyoto, Japan. Japanese filmmaker Umi Ishihara, whose work combines documentary and fantasy styles, was invited by Nigo to shoot an advertising video for the capsule series in two traditional villas in Kyoto. Inner Mongolia photographer Ryu Ika was also shooting at the same location, shooting static blockbusters for the capsule series. His ingenious lens language perfectly captured the unique features of the product. The model lineup for this shoot also includes Abas Abdirazaq, Hayato, Masato Eun, Peipei, Sen Ping and Shun.
pattern
The products in the KENZO x Levi’s® capsule collection combine Levi Strauss & Co.’s classic Two Horse Pull logo with the KENZO logo. Levi’s® metal buttons are also printed with KENZO’s signature Boke flower pattern, and the back pocket has Levi’s® signature double arc stitching. There is KENZO logo embroidery on the top of the pocket, which pays tribute to the name chain embroidery on workers’ uniforms in the early 20th century. The clothing in this collaboration series features two graphic designs: prints that imitate traditional Japanese sashiko embroidery, and prints derived from the KENZO JEANS collection in the fashion archives.
KENZO x Levi’s®
coat
Unisex outerwear includes two jackets: a denim jacket with a detachable faux fur collar and a denim fringed yoke jacket. The design inspiration of both comes from the KENZO JUNGLE series items in the fashion archives of the 1980s. Levi’s® Type II Trucker Jacket from 1967: Red satin decorated with Bokeh flower embroidery pattern and denim details, exquisite vintage washing process, and hand-distressed in Japan. Denim Jacket: Inspired by the iconic Bing Crosby denim tuxedo, this fusion of formal wear and denim jacket features a trompe l’oeil sashimi print on the men’s jacket, while the other for women The jacket is decorated with a revitalized KENZO JEANS print.
KENZO x Levi’s®
Tops, dresses and jeans
Neutral denim shirts feature chain stitch and zigzag pocket design details, while KENZO’s iconic red and off-white T-shirts feature Levi’s® classic shirt pockets. The dark blue and sleeveless buttoned denim dress with KENZO JEANS print is inspired by the works of Kenzo Takada in the 1980s. The design at that time showed a sense of layering and could be worn open and layered. Inspired by the original Levi’s® cargo pants, one comes in a dark washed blue, while the other is covered in a trompe l’oeil sashiko print. Unisex styles of Levi’s® 501® Jeans include vintage washed denim with a hand-distressed finish in Japan, as well as a dark wash denim version of the original Levi’s® 501® Jeans leather suspender jeans from 1933.
KENZO x Levi’s®
accessories
In this dialogue between workwear and formal wear, denim ties, card holders and scarves are also available as accessories. The denim card holder is decorated with eye-catching KENZO chain rust in the center, while KENZO’s iconic red denim-style scarf combines the classic graphic language of Levi’s® and KENZO fashion house, once again paying homage to the concept of this collaboration – —An encounter between Eastern and Western cultures.
The KENZO x Levi’s® 2023 autumn capsule series will be available in KENZO selected stores in mainland China and official WeChat boutiques, Levi’s® selected stores, Levi.com website and Levi’s App on September 29, 2023.
