Felipe Oliveira Baptista Joins KENZO as Creative Director
The designer ended his eight-year-long stint at Lacoste in 2018.
KENZO has announced that Felipe Oliveira Baptista is its new creative director for menswear and womenswear following Humberto Leon and Carol Lim‘s departure.
Oliveira Baptista left Lacoste in 2018 and was succeeded by Louise Trotter, but will now join the LVMH-owned brand. The designer will reveal his first collections for both men and women in February 2020 during Paris Men’s Fashion Week FW20. Humberto Leon and Carol Lim left KENZO after eight years to focus on Opening Ceremony.
Sylvie Colin, CEO of KENZO, told WWD, “What made us choose Felipe above other candidates is the fact that he has a global artistic approach… He has a 360-degree creative vision and will oversee artistic direction globally, dealing both with collections and communication.”
She added, “Felipe’s style is very compatible with our DNA… It’s about a certain daily sophistication, silhouettes that are both chic and sporty, which is pretty much the essence of KENZO.”
LVMH fashion group chairman and CEO Sidney Toledano said in a statement, “Felipe’s talent as a designer, his expertise in clothing and his personal attachment to diverse cultures will be valuable assets in rejuvenating the creative energy at the maison.”
KENZO has not said how Oliveira Baptista intends to change the company, however it did state that Felipe Oliveira Baptista’s partner Séverine will be associated with a number of collaborative collections. Séverine Oliveira Baptista has previously worked with Felipe at both Lacoste and his namesake brand.
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