KENZO’s Fall/Winter 2024 campaign sets a new standard in fashion, combining the allure of sci-fi aesthetics with the wonders of nature. This season, the brand takes us on a journey to the volcanic landscapes of Lanzarote, Spain – a terrain so alien it might as well be another planet.
KENZO‘s artistic director, Nigo, has masterfully used space travel as a metaphor to reflect the interplay between Tokyo and Paris that often inspires his designs. The campaign, shot by renowned photographer Johnny Dufort, features models wandering the rocky terrain of El Volcancito, Charco de los Clicos and Teseguite. Meanwhile, filmmaker Frank Lebon created a series of short films featuring models roaming the Martian-like landscape under the cover of night.
According to KENZO, Dufort and Lebon have managed to portray “the wonders of nature in their inherent sci-fi glory”. This season’s collection owes much to George Lucas’ “Star Wars” franchise, drawing inspiration from kimonos, samurai armor and other Japanese elements. However, the references are so subtly blended that they don’t telegraph any particular national dress, making the collection uniquely KENZO.
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KENZO’s fall fashion show featured variations on flak vests, silver catsuits, Jedi robes, and fuzzy gloves that seemed perfect for the Millennium Falcon. The collection includes elements from the past that seem futuristic, such as a weave inspired by the wood print of a Japanese firefighter’s jacket and a miniature dot pattern that winks at 15th-century kimonos but reads as constellations in the night sky.
Even the school uniform based suits, reminiscent of those Nigo wore during his elementary school days in Japan, would not look out of place on the bridge of any spaceship. The campaign’s fusion of natural beauty and sci-fi aesthetics showcases KENZO’s innovative approach to fashion.
