KENZO moves forward without losing sight of the past

This season, Nigo returns to one of the most historic and symbolic venues in Paris.

The iconic Maxim’s club is transformed into a refined, almost abstract setting, where pop culture, the creative community and nightlife interact through a graphic and minimalist aesthetic designed by Kenzo.

Photographed and directed by Victor Brun, the Spring/Summer 2026 campaign focuses on visual clarity and precise composition. Everything is stripped down to the essentials to let the garments speak for themselves and breathe. And in this exercise in restraint, we perceive the essence of the artistic circles that have defined both the brand and its creative director: from Andy Warhol‘s New York and the unique magnetism of Studio 54 to the contemporary creative communities that continue to orbit around Nigo.

The Maxim’s space itself speaks for itself. A white wall runs through its ornate interior, creating a powerful contrast between the historical opulence of the place and the contemporary minimalism of the set. It is in this tension that the collection takes on meaning. The poses are restrained and the lighting is clean. There is a sense of pause, of calm before the night. The moment is suspended in time to activate the visual narrative and allow the garments to stand out.

Nigo embraces Kenzo Takada‘s intuitive approach to mixing codes and brings his legacy to the current scene, influencing kimonos with both feminine and masculine silhouettes and lines. Satin lapels, velvet and precise finishes elevate the designs, while graphic codes make a strong comeback. The house’s iconic tiger reappears, reinterpreted from the archives of the Autumn/Winter 1998 season, now materialised in jacquards and prints that reinforce the visual identity of the collection.

Military references, drawn from the Autumn/Winter 1978 collection, complete the story. Structured silhouettes, Brandenburg details, metal buttons and generous pockets add character and depth, balancing the clean lines of the ensemble with a sense of combined strength and functionality.