FELIPE OLIVEIRA BAPTISTA NAMED CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT KENZO

Felipe Oliveira Baptista has been named the new creative director at Kenzo, succeeding Carol Lim and Humberto Leon, who served at the creative helm of the LVMH-owned brand for eight years. The co-creative directors presented their final Kenzo collection in Paris last week.

Oliveira Baptista starts his directorship today, Monday, July 1. He previously held the same title at Lacoste from 2010 to 2018. During his tenure, Oliveira Baptiste shifted Lacoste’s focus from being a tennis and lifestyle brand to an athletic, environmentally conscious label that collaborated with Tyler, the Creator’s Golf Wang, Opening Ceremony, and Supreme. Born in Portugal and based in Paris, Oliveira Baptista also ran an eponymous line from 2003 to 2013, which won the Hyères prize in 2003 and the ANDAM Prize in 2003 and 2005.

“I am extremely honored to announce my appointment as Kenzo’s new creative director,” said Oliveira Baptista in a statement on Instagram. “To join such an iconic Maison is a great gift and challenge. Kenzo is all about contagious freedom and movement. Everything Mr. Takada did was printed with joy, elegance and a youthful and cheeky sense of humor. Kenzo’s constant celebration of Nature and cultural diversity have always been and still remains at the heart of the brand. Two subjects that never felt more relevant and compelling than today, instrumental in writing Kenzo’s Future.”

His first official collection for Kenzo will be presented for the fall 2020 season in February.