KENZO Proudly Supports The French Judo Federation In Paris
KENZO is honored to support the French Judo Team for their competitions in Paris this summer. This project echoes the strong involvement of LVMH, KENZO’s parent company, in supporting international sporting events and competitions. To accompany the French Judo athletes for this world-anticipated sports event, KENZO’s Artistic Director Nigo has imagined an outfit that nods to the sport’s Japanese origins: the team will wear the same Kimono-inspired suit that was unveiled during the Fall/Winter 2023 runway show by the brand.
The Kimono is a garment that underwent various changes since its creation in Japan in the 8th century. At its peak during the Edo era – characterized by economic growth, national stability, and enjoyment of the arts – regardless of the wearer’s age, gender, or social status, it is still worn during Japan’s significant events as a reminder of the country’s core culture. The Kimono has also evolved in the practice of judo: its most notable changes throughout the years involved length and overall volume for greater freedom of movement and the use of thicker fabric to allow better grip and anchorage.
It is a symbol of discipline, respect, and commitment to the martial arts, which reflects values dear to KENZO. The authentic Kimono perfectly sums up the traditional Japanese roots that inform Nigo’s work ethos for the house, and it is reimagined here as a sartorial, ceremonial garment in its construction, is a further expression of the ‘East-meets-West’ creative stance the designer consistently elucidates with KENZO. The French Olympic and Paralympic athletes will proudly wear the KENZO Kimono suit on various official occasions this summer.
ABOUT KENZO
To prepare for the future, we look to the past. As a new reality manifests at KENZO, Artistic Director Nigo reconnects with the values entrenched in the early beginnings of the House: designer fashion created for real life, imbued with the playful urbanity of Kenzo Takada’s timeless legacy. A creative exchange, KENZO becomes an evolving dialogue between the pop culture of the founder’s heritage and the street culture beloved by Nigo. Through Nigo’s instinct for contemporary design, a new vision takes shape at KENZO: ‘real-to-wear’, a genuine wardrobe founded in the authentic desires of the post-digital mindset. It is a realistic approach to fashion, which transcends the conventional labels of ‘formal’, ‘casual’, or ‘street’ in favor of the combinations that make up real wardrobes today. A series of encounters take place: the everlasting codes of KENZO are considered through an instant lens, the ‘Jungle’ fashion of its founder is distilled into succinctly covetable items and a new sense of exclusivity heightens the universal appeal key to the House’s history. In the encounter between the founder and the heir, the core of KENZO is amplified: unconventional fashion for the future, rooted in the permanence of its past.
In the Philippines, Kenzo is exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists, Inc., located at Greenbelt 3. Visit www.ssilife.com.ph or follow @ssilifeph on Instagram for more information.
About SSI Group, Inc.:
The SSI Group is the Philippines’ largest specialty retailer, with an established brand portfolio that includes some of the world’s most recognized international brands. We lead the country’s specialty retail market through the size and breadth of our brand portfolio and store network, with 94 brands and 593 stores. With our growing e-commerce presence, we are also the Philippine specialty retailer with the most diverse and extensive e-commerce offering. Our unique brand portfolio covers a wide range of specialty and lifestyle concepts, spanning the luxury, casual, and fast fashion, beauty, footwear, home, and restaurant categories. Established in the 1980s, SSI has been at the forefront of the Philippine retail industry for more than 30 years. Throughout this time, we have sought to inspire and enhance the lifestyle values of our customers and to cater to the evolving tastes and aspirations of Filipino consumers. In response to the evolution of the retail industry, the company introduced "The Specialist," an At Home concierge service dedicated to serving its valued customers with their shopping needs. Customers may get in touch with SSI’s Customer Service team through any of the following channels to inquire about a particular brand or product:
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