LIFESTYLE « couture. The designs draw on graphic and cultural and cultural references, blending origins, mastering colours and creating delicate patterns. FOUR speaks to Kenzō about his journey in the fashion and design industries, and his recent collaboration with Roche Bobois… WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?
“I was born in Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture. I grew up in Umegae-cho, just north of Himeji Castle.” HOW DID YOU GET INTO YOUR LINE OF WORK?
“I began to be attracted to fashion at a very young age, probably as early as 10 years old, by reading through the fashion magazines that my sisters were bringing home. “I found an advertisement sayimg that Bunka Fashion College was accepting male students for the first time ever. In April of 1958 I dropped out of the university I was attending in Kobe, and immediately enrolled at Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo. That’s where I learned all the technical aspects and all the various processes. “But my real aesthetic came from my trip from Japan to France by boat in December 1964. The cruise travelled through Far East Asia, India, West Africa, North Africa and, finally, France. During this trip I really felt the impact of the colours, the cultures, the architecture, and discovered really for the first time how the world was immense in values. “Later, after I started my brand in the early 70s, I wanted to mix all these wonderful inspirations I got from travelling.”
ABOVE Kenzō with Yves Saint Laurent. BELOW Takada has been an icon of the fashion scene since launching in 1970.
“My designs are always colourful and graphic. I like them as such, I want it to be joyful, it is important for me to transmit as much positivity as possible”
WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL BRIEF FOR THE RECENT COLLABORATION WITH ROCHE BOBOIS?
“About more than three years ago now, I met the team and Nicola Roche through friends. We quickly agreed to work together on this great project. Our teams got along very well and the process took some time, but was a real pleasure to work on as they made everything possible. Roche Bobois is a very well-known brand and I’ve owned some pieces of their’s in the past. “Right after the first few meetings, we decided to work on several concepts inspired by Japanese crafts. The creative process was long, and we reworked several time on the different graphics, textiles and colours, and later added more elements to the collection. “Roche Bobois really allowed me to express myself freely and didn’t obstruct in any creative process, but actually allowed me to go beyond my expectations thanks to their great know-how and manufacturing capacities. Even if it was sometimes very challenging for certain technical aspects, their knowledge has been an excellent asset for me and my team. “In the end it really came naturally. I always loved and enjoyed working around the home environment.” CAN YOU TELL ME A BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR DESIGNS IN GENERAL? DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE?
“I couldn’t choose a favourite, as I pushed Roche Bobois to come out with the three different colour tones. I was convinced that it could give more options for people to choose from, knowing that it is not so simple to pick the right furniture that will fit in harmony with the rest in someone’s home. It is very important to find harmony in a home. I think the collection works very well together, and individually speaking I’m very proud of it.” WHERE DO YOU GET INSPIRATION FOR THE DESIGNS YOU CREATE?
“From everywhere and everything. The world is so vast, so rich in cultures, so interesting in history. Inspirations can come from all directions, even from objects and discoveries » 22