NIGO Sets Sail In KENZO SS23 Campaign

NIGO‘s impact at KENZO is undeniably impressive, having taken the House from niche to notorious. Now, it captures the lauded designer’s men’s and womenswear in its new Spring/Summer 2023 campaign, putting the focus on “worldliness, inclusivity and individuality.”

Starring skateboarder and musician Lil Dre, vocalist Nina Utashiro, and models Moses Battiest, Ama Elsesser, Sunmoon Jung, Lily McMenamy, Omar Sesay, Lulu Tenney and Bomi Youn, the campaign celebrates the diverse cultural universe that KENZO encompasses. Sailor motifs clash with streetwear undertones, the seaside is met with stark studio backgrounds popping in shades of purple, and collegiate themes are contrasted with stereotypical Parisian flair.

Something that NIGO has done very well is recontextualizing the House’s iconography. On the naval ensemble, we find the navy and off white camp collar shirt and skirt incorporate dozens of KENZO badges. “Jungle” reads one, another plays on vintage branding — and together, it implies that the sailor has been awarded many badges for their achievements at sea, as if this piece from KENZO is the uniform depicting NIGO’s success.

This is twisted later on as a vest appears with plenty of badges, but its yellow colorway implies that this is a life jacket. Streetwear references come to the fore with the KENZO-branded nameplate buckle belt and the badged scarf hanging from the model’s jean pocket, while womenswear gets a similar at-sea treatment.

Take a look at KENZO’s Spring/Summer 2023 campaign in the gallery above, and find more online.

In other news, Supreme has revealed its new L.A. store.