backstage at paris | kenzo

Taking inspiration from Ryuichi Sakamoto for the Spring/Summer 2018 collections, Kenzo harked back to the Asian roots of the house. The design duo of Kenzo, Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, looked to the muse of Takada, Sayoko Yamaguchi, who embodied the brilliance of his designs perfectly. With signature treatments of florals that balanced – literally balanced, as performers swung from the façade of the courtyard – archival references and an influx of new, high-powered energy, the collections were brilliant reinvention of the best of Kenzo’s essence. Photographer Nicky Zeng takes us behind the scenes to capture the pre-show lineup.