Kenzo Takada dies at 81 of Covid-19

Mr. Kenzo Takada, who brought Japanese fashion to the world, died on Sunday in Paris at the age of 81 due to Covid-19 complications.

While fashion industry, including designers, journalists, influencers and others have been on the radar for Paris Fashion week, the death of Takada added a somber note to the event.  

“The cause was complications of the novel coronavirus; he had been sick for weeks” Spokeswoman for the designer said.

Takada introduced vibrant colors and a new mix and match to the fashion industry, as he was well-known for his fresh and powerful colors. Here’s a glimpse of Kenzo in the fashion industry.

He travelled by boat to France in 1964, and settled in Paris. Once he arrived to Paris from Japan, he shocked the French fashion industry with some fresh designs, and while he planned to stay in Paris for 6 months, he ended up staying 56 years, though his work opened doors for other Japanese designers.

He founded the internationally known brand under his first name Kenzo in the 1970s. He launched a men's line in 1983, and later in the 1980s the more casual sportswear lines Kenzo Jeans and Kenzo Jungle.

He sold his clothing brand to luxury conglomerate LVMH in 1993 and retired from fashion six years later.

The designer left Kenzo in 1999 after it was acquired by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, but he continued to support the brand under several creative configurations.

Here are some of the iconic Kenzo moments to hit the Paris catwalks.

Kenzo 1981

Kenzo Spring Summer 1992

Kenzo Spring Summer 1994

Kenzo Spring Summer 1994

Kenzo Fall Winter 2012