To celebrate the worldwide release of Walt Disney Studios’ “The Jungle Book,” KENZO is launching a collection of ready-to-wear that will be available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman in the United States. The limited edition collection of women’s and men’s ready-to-wear, influenced by the story’s classic animated characters, will be available starting April 1. In support of the launch, Bergdorf Goodman will also reveal two windows on April 5 inspired by the upcoming live action movie that debuts in U.S. theaters on April 15, 2016.
KENZO Creative Directors Carol Lim and Humberto Leon delved deep into the Disney archives to source some of the original drawings from the classic animated movie, “The Jungle Book”. Once they discovered these fantastically joyful sketches, the prints swiftly followed and Mowgli, Bagheera the panther, King Louie the orangutan, Hathi the elephant, Baloo the bear and Akela the wolf suddenly came back to life in two abundant and richly colorful jungle scenarios. The prints will be featured on a women’s collection of silk and cotton summer shirts, dresses, jackets and tops and on the men’s collection which features light jackets, trousers, shorts and Hawaiian shirts. The collection draws inspiration from the French house’s historic first store founded in 1970 by Kenzo Takada.
For this first collaboration with Disney, one of KENZO’s most renowned emblems has been cheekily usurped on a line of sweaters and tee-shirts by none other than the fearsome tiger, Shere Khan. Roaring his way onto the jersey pieces, Shere Khan makes his appearance on KENZO’s traditional tiger sweater symbolizing the natural fit between KENZO and Disney’s designs. The collection is rounded off with knitwear featuring Kaa the python and an intarsia Shere Khan pullover.
“What we found most appealing for this project was to marry strong elements from The Jungle Book with details that we know as quintessential KENZO. There’s a way that everything comes together that is slightly familiar but also really fresh and exciting. The silhouettes we chose for the garments and accessories were inspired by the new direction Disney has taken with the live-action movie. There is a slight nod to jungle / safari elements (and even beautiful printed silk shorts directly inspired by Mowgli’s costume). Everything has been executed in a way that feels elevated and modern, which has been the collective goal of Disney and KENZO from the very beginning of this collaboration,” said Carol Lim & Humberto Leon.
