Visitors to Paris ahead of the holidays can tick several boxes — cool graphics, designer allure, fashion buzz and cultural awareness — if they shop for souvenirs or gifts at Kenzo‘s new pop-up store at 66 Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
The high-visibility location, opening to the public on Saturday, will showcase elements from Kenzo’s spring 2024 men’s and women’s collections done in collaboration with Japanese graphic artist Verdy.
Kenzo’s artistic director Nigo tapped Verdy to create a new Kenzo Paris logo in a striking serif font, which appears on judo jackets, sweatshirts, other jerseys and canvas tote bags. It’s also repeated as a busy print for T-shirts, windbreakers, skirts and parkas.
Items from the Kenzo x Verdy collection.
Paul Kooiker
The eye-catching font will also be used for other signifiers of the house — 1970, the year Kenzo was founded, and 18 Rue Vivienne, the address of the Paris headquarters — that will appear on a range of woven, knit, denim and leather pieces. Some styles are considered genderless.
Nigo’s music and fashion buddy Pharrell Williams has already been spotted wearing a Kenzo Paris sweatshirt.
Kenzo pop-up in Paris on the Champs-Élysées.
Juan Jerez/Courtesy of Kenzo
The Kenzo x Verdy collection will be showcased at the Champs-Élysées pop-up until Dec. 17, and at 10 Corso Como in Seoul from Dec. 16 to 26.
The twin pop-ups feed Nigo’s central theme at Kenzo — creating a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures. Kenzo x Verdy merchandise will also be sold on kenzo.com from Friday to Sunday and then in physical Kenzo stores from Monday.
A look from Kenzo x Verdy collaboration.
Paul Kooiker
Verdy’s graphics — drawing on skateboarding, hip-hop and manga as inspirations — are seen as a fusion of Japanese and Western streetwear iconography.
The Osaka-born, Tokyo-based creative was recently appointed artistic director of K-pop sensation Blackpink. Some of his most notable projects include Girls Don’t Cry, Wasted Youth, his panda rabbit character Vick and, most recently, Visty.
Verdy has also worked with such famous names as Nike, Levi’s, Instagram, Coachella and Dover Street Market.
In tandem with the global launch is a dedicated campaign lensed by Paul Kooiker that will appear on social channels, online and in-store.
Kenzo pop-up in Paris on the Champs-Élysées.
Juan Jerez/Courtesy of Kenzo