Information On Kenzo

Takada Kenzo was one of seven children and showed an interest in fashion through reading the magazines of his sisters. Born in Himeiji City, Hyogo Prefecture, Takada Kenzo gave up Kobe University to try to become one of the first male students at Tokyo's Bunka Fashion College however his parents did not agree of his career ambitions and Takada Kenzo had to work part-time in Tokyo to support himself while he did evening prep courses in design. After some six months, Takada Kenzo was at last accepted to the prestigious college and the kind of determination that got him there was to serve him well in the future.

In 1964 Takada Kenzo moved to Paris and started at the very bottom of the fashion industry ladder. After making enough contacts, Takada Kenzo worked as a freelance designer and opened his first boutique 'Jungle Jap' in 1970.

The first work of Takada Kenzo borrowed a great deal from traditional Japanese styles but it was his 'big silhouette' designs which drew worldwide interest. The designs of Takada Kenzo made him something of a trendsetter for young fashion. In Japan Takada Kenzo is highly regarded as a pioneer who introduced Japanese fashion design to a world spectators. Always very selective of his fabric, Takada Kenzo in recent years has moved into the design of furniture coverings and household items. In September 1999 Takada Kenzo announced that he was handing over the reins of his fashion house to his assistants.