Kenzo Takada Has Passed Away From COVID-19
The Japanese-French designer, best known for founding KENZO, has died at the age of 81 from complications related to the novel coronavirus
The pandemic has claimed yet another life as it was announced Kenzo Takada passed away after contracting COVID-19 earlier today.
Famous for founding Japanese-French fashion house KENZO – best known for its bold designs and graphic prints – the designer died at the American Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine in Paris at the age of 81, according to The National.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, KENZO shared the news with its followers.
“It is with immense sadness that KENZO has learned of the passing of our founder, Kenzo Takada. For half a century, Mr. Takada has been an emblematic personality in the fashion industry – always infusing creativity and color into the world. Today, his optimism, zest for life and generosity continue to be pillars of our Maison. He will be greatly missed and always remembered,” the caption reads.
KENZO creative director Felipe Oliveira Baptista also posted his condolences on his own Instagram account.
“FAREWELL MASTER. It is with great sadness that I have learned the passing away of Mr Kenzo Takada. His amazing energy, kindness, talent and smile were contagious. His kindred spirit will live forever,” he writes.
While the KENZO fashion brand was acquired by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton in 1999, the designer still supported the brand “under several creative configurations,” according to Women’s Wear Daily (WWD).
According to the fashion industry news news journal Kenzo was born on Feb. 27, 1939, in Himeji, Japan and moved to Paris in 1964 to pursue a career within the industry, after attending Tokyo’s Bunka Fashion College as, where he was one of its first male students.
Lead image courtesy of Instagram/kenzotakada_official.