Kenzo artistic director Nigo brought Eastern and Western influences together for his latest runway show, held at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France (BNF). This cultural fusion resulted in the Kenzo Magic Galaxy, a collection inspired by the world of science fiction.

Just as filmmaker George Lucas found inspiration in the samurai films of Akira Kurosawa, Nigo envisions new codes to create a new vocabulary and a new fantasy world. The silhouettes for both men and women bridge two worlds, rooted in Japanese tradition while infused with details from faraway galaxies. A kimono coat resembles a warrior’s cape, while shimmering silvery and golden ensembles are fit for a space fiction heroine. A pattern inspired by fifteenth-century Edo Komon kimonos is reimagined as a star constellation in prints and embroideries. Throughout the collection, there are nods to Western military wardrobes, with flight jackets, roomy cargo suits, and shearling jackets.

Women’s silhouettes are cinched at the waist with judo belts. Men’s gakuran schoolboy suits are made in technical wools and denim in red, black, and khaki. Kimono constructions are recontextualized in quilted nylon, denim, and tailoring and shirting fabrics. Patterns include a weave inspired by Japanese hakeshi baten firemen’s jackets, interpreted in nylon, jacquards, and denim.

Accessories range from tributes to traditional craftsmanship, like the KENZO Furoshiki bag inspired by the Japanese art of wrapping, to futuristic pieces like the KENZO Biker motocross boot.

The Kenzo Magic Galaxy collection is a stunning blend of East and West, tradition and modernity. It is a testament to Nigo’s vision and creativity, and it is sure to appeal to fashion lovers who appreciate both the familiar and the fantastical.

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