Kenzo Name Famed Japanese Designer Nigo as New Artistic Director

After being part of the KAWS x HUMAN MADE collaboration earlier this summer, famed Japanese designer Nigo seems to be casting his attention elsewhere. LVMH owned Kenzo has just announced Nigo as its newest artistic director with almost immediate effect.

For the unfamiliar, Nigo (born Tomoaki Nagao) is a Japanese fashion designer mostly famed for founding A Bathing Ape. Despite leaving BAPE in 2013, Nigo has since gone on to front some of the biggest brands and collaborations in streetwear ever since.

When speaking on his new role, Nigo said: “I am proud to have been appointed artistic director of Kenzo. I was born in the year that Takada Kenzo san opened his first store in Paris. We both graduated from the same fashion school in Tokyo."

Nigo is set to succeed Oliveira Baptista, the previous artistic director who left after just two years at the fashion house. Baptista's departure came just nine months proceeding the death of founder Kenzo Takada (81) in October 2020.

The appointment of Nigo as artistic director is effective as of the 20th of September 2021. In other news, Billionaire Boys Club supply the thrift store vibes for FW21.