When East Meets West

After a long hiatus, audacious Japanese designer Kenzo Takada is back in the biz. He speaks to BlackBook about his new furniture collection, and the impact that age has had on his idea of design and luxury.

- Pankti Mehta Kadakia

In 1965, Kenzo Takada hopped on a boat from Tokyo and embarked upon a journey into Paris, which took several months. Back then, Chanel and Dior ruled couture with their French, minimal aesthetic, and it took Takada some time to break the mould. He opened his first boutique, Jungle Jap, in 1970—a bold label with Japanese style prints and fluid silhouettes. His sharp sensibility continued into building the house of Kenzo, which was eventually acquired by LVMH in 1993. Takada retired from the fashion house in 1999, entrusting it to his assistants.

Last month, Takada partnered with French furniture brand Roche Bobois for a sofa collection called Mah Jong—a colourful line with distinct Japanese influences and fabric.

Designing a furniture collection is certainly different from fashion but the goal remains the same—to create a harmonious collection and bring a certain identity forward. A home collection needs to last for many years. I think the slower pace of the home fashion industry suits me better now.