Kenzo Takada

Kenzo Takada (高田賢三) is a Japanese Fashion designer and the founder of Kenzo, a line of perfume, skincare products, and clothing that is sold throughout the world.

History

Kenzo Takada was born on February 27, 1939 in Himeji, Japan and he quickly developed a love for fashion, reading magazines from his sisters. He attended the University of Kobe for a short time before he withdrew and reenrolled in the Bunka Fashion College, a popular college for young women that had just recently opened itself to allow male students. He graduated from Bunka and soon thereafter moved to Paris in 1964, where he tried to get a foot in the door by freelancing and selling his designs to top firms and designers.

Kenzo’s earliest designs were a result of his inability to afford fabrics, requiring him to buy scraps and combine his works into a single garment. In 1970, he opened his first show at the Vivienne Gallery and then his first store, Jungle Jap with a major appearance in Elle magazine. His collections were shown in both Tokyo and New York in 1971 and in 1972, he received the Fashion Editor Club of Japan award.

Kenzo launched his men’s collection in 1983 and his world famous perfume line in 1988, known as Kenzo de Kenzo. His first men’s fragrance was launched in 1991 with Kenzo pour Homme and in 1993, Kenzo was purchased by LVMH, the French luxury goods company.

In 1999, Kenzo retired from fashion design and put his assistants in charge of his design house. He has since worked a small number of projects such as Gokan Kobo in his spare time.

External Links

• Article Spotlight on Kenzo