THE FASHIONISTA BIBLE · JAPONISTA UNIVERSE
Kenzo: Paris Colour, Tokyo Cut
Kenzo Takada was born in Himeji in 1939 and left Japan for Paris in 1965. In 1970 he opened his first boutique, Jungle Jap, and the loose kimono-cut shapes, folk prints and crowded floral palettes he showed there gave Paris fashion a Japanese point of view it had not seen in that form before.
The house passed to LVMH in 1993, and Takada retired from it in 1999; he died in 2020. Founder-era pieces, with their light fabrics and sense of play, are what collectors look for first. Later creative directors reworked the house’s tiger and flower emblems for new audiences, and those seasons have their own following.
Kenzo was sold in Japan for decades through department stores and boutiques, which is why clean, labelled examples turn up here in good order. Check season labels, sizing and fabric care, and read the condition rank before anything else.
The Hunting Salon™
If you are looking for a particular Kenzo piece, season or size, the Hunting Salon™ can assist discreetly with search, verification and shipping.
Curator’s note: Kenzo belongs to the first wave of Japanese designers in Paris, alongside Hanae Mori and Issey Miyake. Continue with the Fashionista Bible, the directory of Japanese fashion designers and the collector guides.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Kenzo?
Kenzo Takada, born in Himeji, Japan, who opened his first Paris boutique in 1970.
How is condition described?
Every piece carries a Japanese condition rank from N to C, explained in Japanese Condition Ranks Explained.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes. Duties vary by destination; see Import Duties on Luxury Goods from Japan.
Index terms: kenzo · kenzo takada · kenzo vintage · kenzo paris · jungle jap · kenzo japan · kenzo archive · kenzo tiger · japanese designers in paris
