Kenzo has unveiled its Fall 2026 collection by inviting guests into the personal sanctuary of its founder, Kenzo Takada. Located in Paris’s Bastille district, the 1,600-square-meter “Oasis House” was originally conceived by Takada to bridge French and Japanese aesthetics, featuring a Japanese garden with a koi pond alongside traditional tea ceremony spaces. This landmark setting, renovated by Kengo Kuma in 2019, provides the atmospheric backdrop for a collection that Nigo describes as a sincere “homecoming” to the maison’s singular essence.

The collection reflects a fluid exchange of cultural norms and archetypes. Nigo’s signature workwear sensibility intersects with American collegiate graphics, flannel cowboy shirts, and sophisticated Italian tailoring. Technical details like Chinese “pankou” knots are paired with traditional kimono-style construction, creating a visual dialogue between East and West. Archives play a pivotal role this season; the iconic tiger motif from the 1980s Kenzo Jungle returns, while the 1986 “Kite” bag is re-imagined as modern shoulder bags and totes. A prominent “K” motif also anchors the collection, giving a strong varsity spirit to jackets and knitwear.

Beyond the runway, the residence’s library displayed a curated selection of archival sketches and editorials from 1970 to the late 1990s, highlighting the geometric and figurative elements that continue to inspire Nigo today. To further ground the experience in the designer’s personal reality, his favorite Parisian coffee shop, Télescope, served a menu reflecting his daily routine. Guests were treated to shiso-infused ham sandwiches and fresh goat cheese wrapped in plum and nori, completing a sensory return to the foundational values of the house of Kenzo.