Nigo Brings the Jungle to Paris for Kenzo Spring/Summer 2025
Nigo, creative director of Kenzo, presented his Spring/Summer 2025 collection during Men's Paris Fashion Week.
In Kenzo’s Spring 2025 presentation, artistic director Nigo simultaneously encapsulates Japanese culture and Parisian flair. The show, which was presented on the golden soil encompassing the fountain of the Palais-Royal, added a fun and modern touch to the sophisticated, neoclassical space. Just as the location was close to the heart of Nigo, the collection itself felt personal and indicative of Nigo's deep-seated connection to the brand's Japanese heritage while infusing its Parisian spirit.
Fellow creatives filled the front row of the show, including rapper Pusha T, actress Juliette Binoche, singer Rema, K-pop star Vernon of Seventeen, and Louis Vuitton Creative Director Pharell Williams, who gave Nigo a standing ovation.
In an unprecedented move for the Parisian fashion house, Nigo presented the menswear and womenswear collections consecutively for his sixth show for the brand, exhibiting refined tailoring while appearing effortless and at ease in its execution. The menswear contained relaxed workwear jackets, loose-fitting satin pants inspired by those worn by Japanese scaffolders, mesh crocheted tank tops embroidered with flowers, and kimono suit jackets made more laid-back with hoodies and sandals—developed in partnership with the heritage artisan Gion Naito from Kyoto. Meanwhile, womenswear maintained that delicate awareness of contemporary poise and silhouettes popular in Japan. A color-blocked wrap dress, mid-riff baring two-piece set, and crocheted evening dresses with hanjuban kimono sleeves and fringing made their way down the runway.
A kaleidoscope of colors, including sunset orange, midnight blue, neon yellow, vibrant maroon, and muted earth green, graced the sand, bringing vitality to the monotone runway and complementing the animated flow of water cascading in the background. Nigo balanced soft and sensitive elegance while cultivating a sense of playfulness punctuated by motifs signed by the graphic designer Verdy. He reimagined its signature tiger print—a continuity since the brand’s Fall/Winter 2022 collection—on bomber jackets. Nigo’s frequent application of the brand’s exotic flower camouflage pattern fueled the eccentricity of the collection. Motivated by friendship and shared history, he also tapped into archival patterns resembling origami paper, which he incorporated into pantsuits and mini dresses alike, grounding the otherwise spirited collections.