Kenzo X Levi’s Fall 2023 Women’s And Men’s Capsule Collection

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KENZO X LEVI’S^®: an authentic denim wardrobe suspended between the traditions and innovations of East and West. Launching on 4 October 2023, KENZO and Levi’s^® join forces in a Fall 2023 capsule collection, the first ever collaboration under Nigo at KENZO, fusing the cultural heritages of the Parisian-Japanese fashion house and the American apparel company. Designed in collaboration with Nigo and Levi’s^®, the denim-focused proposal for women and men exemplifies the ongoing cross-pollination between historical Japanese dressmaking and classic American workwear central to the practice of KENZO’s Artistic Director. The capsule collection is available in KENZO boutiques worldwide, in selected Levi’s^® stores and KENZO partner stores, and on KENZO.com and Levi.com.

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Composed of around twenty garments and accessories crafted mainly in Kaihara premium Japanese denim, the capsule collection epitomises the real-to-wear functionality key to Nigo’s KENZO approach. An avid collector of historical clothing, the designer’s archives in Japan hold a considerable catalogue of American denim pieces including original Levi Strauss & Co. workwear created for cowboys and miners. His passion for denim and its place in fashion history is reflected in the legacy of Kenzo Takada whose interest in the ease and democratic spirit of denim inspired him to launch the KENZO JEANS line in 1986. Together, these components make up a wardrobe founded in a conversation between Americana, Japanese construction, and the genetics of Kenzo Takada which inspired the connection between KENZO and Levi’s^®.

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The East-meets-West philosophy at the heart of KENZO x Levi’s^® is framed by a campaign shot in Kyoto. Nigo invites the Japanese filmmaker Umi Ishihara – whose work fuses documentary and fiction styles – to capture the collection in cinematic moving imagery filmed in two traditional sansou mountain villas in Kyoto. The locations likewise play host to a series of still images photographed by the Inner Mongolian photographer Ryu Ika, who illuminates the collection through her inimitable everyday lens. The campaign features an ensemble cast: Abas Abdirazaq, Hayato, Masato Eun, Peipei, Sen Ping and Shun.

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MOTIFS

Pieces in the KENZO x Levi’s^® capsule collection are co-branded with a marque uniting the classic Levi Strauss & Co. ”two horse pull” iconography with the KENZO logo. Metal Levi’s^® shanks are
embossed with KENZO’s emblematic Boke flower, while back pockets feature the iconic Levi’s^® arcuate stitching. Embroidered KENZO logos appear above pockets as a nod to the chainstitched ‘name badges’ placed on uniforms by factory workers in the early 20^th century. Garments in the collection are adornedin two motifs: a Sashiko print imitatingthe traditional Japanese stitching technique,and an archive floral print revivedfrom the KENZO JEANS line.

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OUTERWEAR

Gender inclusive outerwear include adenim jacket with a detachable faux furcollar and a denim fringe jacket with Western yokes, both inspired by 1980s’ archival pieces from the KENZO JUNGLE
line. The Levi’s^® Type II Trucker Jacket from 1967 is re-animated in red satin with a Boke flower embroidery and Western details, and in a savoir-faire vintage-washed denim version, hand-distressed in Japan. Denim blazers inspired by the iconic Bing Crosby denim tuxedo combine tailoring with jean jackets and include a men’s jacket adorned with a trompe l’oeil Sashiko print and a women’s jacket rendered in the re-invigorated KENZO JEANS floral print.

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TOPS, DRESSES AND JEANS

A gender inclusive denim shirt features chainstitch and sawtooth pocket detailing, while a t-shirt rendered in KENZO red or off-white bears the memory of a classic Levi’s^® shirt pocket. Sleeveless button-down denim dresses inspired by Kenzo Takada pieces from the 1980s can be worn open as layering elements and feature in dark blue or the KENZO JEANS floral print. Dungarees informed by the original Levi’s^® archetype appear in a dark indigo rinse and another covered in the trompe l’oeil Sashiko print. Gender inclusive Levi’s^® 501® Jeans include a vintage-washed denim interpretation hand-distressed in Japan, and a rinse indigo denim adaptation with leather and denim suspenders inspired by the original Levi’s^® 501^® Jeans from 1933.

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ACCESSORIES

A denim tie complements the capsule collection’s conversation between workwear and tailoring, while a denim cardholder puts the KENZO chainstitch centre stage. In homage to the Eastmeets- West sensibility of the line, the artwork of a KENZO red Western bandana integrates the Levi’s^® iconography with that of the Maison.

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The KENZO x Levi’s^® Fall 2023 Women’s and Men’s Capsule Collection is available from October 4, 2023 in KENZO stores, at KENZO.COM, select Levi’s^® stores, Levi.com, and Levi’s^® App.

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