Abstract

In October 2020, world-renowned fashion designer Kenzo Takada, founder of the "KENZO" brand, passed away at the age of 81 from COVID-19. This book is his memoir by the author who supported Mr. Takada for many years as his brand's public relations manager and personal manager of him.

Mr. Takada went to Paris in 1965 at the age of 25. Five years later, he opened his own boutique in Paris. His innovative designs, which incorporated elements of Japanese kimono and other ethnic costumes from around the world, were highly acclaimed, and he immediately became one of the top designers, being called "the poet of cotton" and "a magician of colors".

His shows were also distinctively, with background music playing and models moving around energetically (at the time of his debut, shows with a quiet atmosphere were the norm). He also used unique locations such as an old castle and a circus hut as venues, and often brought animals to the stage. While these playful performances surprised and entertained the audience, there was also a backstage incident that a goat ate show's timetable.

In the 1990s, he suffered the bereavement of a loved one and the buyout of his brand, then he eventually left KENZO. However, he continued to be active both in Japan and abroad, most notably as a costume designer for the Athens Olympics and for the opera "Madama Butterfly". He also launched a new brand of interior design about a year before the end of his life.

This is a vivid portrait of a master of art and life with both passion and humanity. Especially recommend it to all creators and fashion people.


TABLE OF CONTENTS (tentative translation)

Prologue A Phone Call from Paris
Chapitre 1 My First Meeting with Kenzo
Chapitre 2 As a Personal Manager
Chapitre 3 Kenzo and PARIS (1960s and 1970s)
Chapitre 4 Kenzo and PARIS (1980s-90s)
Chapitre 5 Resides in Bastille and Le Sixième
Chapitre 6 Designing for the Athens Olympics
Chapitre 7 Celebrate His 80th Birthday
Chapitre 8 "Madama Butterfly" by Amon and Kenzo
Chapitre 9 The Unforgettable Day
Chapitre 10 New Brand "K3"
Chapitre 11 The Last Works
Chapitre 12 Shooting and Farewell
Chapitre 13 Kenzo and Food
Chapitre 14 Kenzo on the Road
Chapitre 15 Staying in Tokyo
Chapitre 16 Memorable Scenes
Chapitre 17 New Challenge of Mine
Épilogue Paris Mourns the Death of a Son

Author’s Information

SUZUKI, Yayoi
President of C'est chouette Co.,Ltd.
After studying at the Sorbonne University, Institute Catholique in 1977, joined Fédération Française du Prêt-à-Porter féminin au Japon. Joined ELLCA Co.,Ltd. in 1983 and was engaged in public ralations(PR) of KENZO brand which Mr. Kenzo Takada founded. In 1991, she founded Pas à Pas Co.,Ltd. (later to become C'est chouette Co., Ltd. in 2011), a company mainly handling PR for European fashion brands (Attache de Presse) and also signing a PR contract with Mr. Takada and KENZO. Later, in addition, she started to support Mr. Takada in his personal life as a personal manager on his offer. In 2020, she launched her own women's fashion brand called "Minimalize+PLUS".