A cultural exchange in clothing. This seemed to be the underlying message at this afternoon’s Kenzo show in Paris. The designers Carol Lim and Humberto Leon focused on Leon’s Chinese-Peruvian heritage and the rich culture of his Tusán people as they fused ethnic textiles with contemporary wardrobe staples.
The design duo’s ability to sense which way the wind blows in fashion is impressive: “What’s next, how’s it worn and why?” They ask.
Kenzo speaks to the millennial and Gen-Z shopper and to the “plugged-in” – those, who consume on all forms of social media. The pair’s plays on the hiking gear worn by tourists and their professional guides in the Peruvian mountains will be retail sell-outs. The all-weather outerwear with reversible linings and detachable pockets, and those brilliant trekking boots were best. The traditional weaving and colour-ways were not only reflected in the excellent knitwear but also on the walls. Giant murals by the artist Pablo Amaringo. Bags – a big seller for the brand – came fused when a backpack met with a shopper. Clever stuff.
Photography by Jason Lloyd-Evans.
