MILAN — Pitti Immagine said Thursday that Kenzo and Maison Kitsuné will be the next guest designers at Pitti Uomo and Pitti W, respectively. The men’s and women’s trade shows will be held in Florence Jan. 8 to 11.
At the Pitti Uomo international men’s exhibition, Kenzo’s creative directors Humberto Leon and Carol Lim — who took over designing the French brand’s men’s and women’s lines in July 2011, succeeding former designer Antonio Marras — are set to showcase the fall 2014 men’s wear collection in a presentation format.
“Florence is an amazing canvas for Kenzo,” said Leon, who with Lim cofounded New York-based retailer Opening Ceremony in 2002.
Lim added that “conceiving a dynamic presentation for our next men’s collection amongst this vibrant yet antique urban setting” provides the opportunity to explore another side of Kenzo.
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In the span of three seasons, the duo has updated the image of the French brand, which is owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
“Kenzo is one of the most interesting phenomena of recent seasons and, to be frank, one of the most [exciting],” said Pitti Immagine communications and events director Lapo Cianchi. “The advent of Humberto Leon and Carol Lim has produced a radical turnaround in just one year. The founder’s legacy is the inspiring essence rather than a model to reproduce. The exoticism of the early collections (such as the antinaturalistic 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.”
Established in Paris in 2002 by Gildas Loaëc, former art director and manager for French electro band Daft Punk, and Japanese architect Masaya Kuroki, Maison Kitsuné, which is also a music label, will hold an event in Florence to fete the first official presentation of their women’s line.
“During the first conversation with Gildas Loaëc and Masaya Kuroki a couple of weeks ago, 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,” Cianchi said. “It will be a powerful event: for Maison Kitsuné fashion and music express a single, eclectic and highly rhythmic creative project.”
Maison Kitsuné, which opened its first U.S. store in New York’s NoMad neighborhood in April, collaborates with several brands, including Petit Bateau for T-shirts; Pierre Hardy for footwear; Isetan for pajamas, tote bags, scarves and jackets, and Corto Moltedo for luxury evening bags.