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Exotic and enticing, everything about Kenzo is made to intrigue and excite the senses. The Japanese fashion house began life in the 1970’s in glorious Paris. Since then, everything made by founding designer Kenzo Takada and his team have continued to add a bit of magic to the fashion world, from their colourful clothing lines, to their range of delectable fragrances...

Kenzo Takada was born in Japan in 1940, his interest in fashion began at an early age through reading his sister’s magazines. Aged 18, he attended the University of Kobe to study literature but becoming dissatisfied and bored he left for Tokyo’s Bunka Fashion College, where he was one of the first male students to be admitted.

In 1960, Kenzo won the prestigious Soen prize and began working for the Sanai department store as a designer of girl’s clothing, creating up to 40 styles per month. Kenzo moved to Paris in 1964 where he started to design outfits for various department stores. He opened his first boutique in 1970 and it was the venue for his first show. His designs were featured in American Vogue in 1971 where he was deemed the next development in the Paris boutique scene.

1988 was when the first Kenzo perfume line began with originals such as Kenzo de Kenzo, Parfum d’ete, Le Monde Est Beau and L’Eau par Kenzo. Flower by Kenzo launched in 2000 and has since become a flagship fragrance for the Kenzo Parfums brand. The Kenzo label was bought by LVMH in 1993 and in 1999 Kenzo Takada announced his retirement.

Kenzo has continued to be an internationally renowned brand and in 2011 creative directorship was taken over by Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, the duo behind US clothing store Opening Ceremony.