Japanese fashion designer, Kenzo Takada, has died from coronavirus at 81.
His family in a statement to French media on Sunday said that Takada died from complications from COVID-19 in American Hospital in Paris.
A public relations officer for Takada‘s brand confirmed that he died, but didn’t give a cause of death.
It stated;
It is with immense sadness that KENZO has learned of the passing of our founder. For half a century, Mr. Takada has been an emblematic personality in the fashion industry — always infusing creativity and color into the world.
Takada, known best by his first name, was the first designer from Japan to break into the city’s exclusive fashion milieu in the 1970s.
His designs featured colourful graphic and floral prints. He was hugely popular, both for his high fashion and luxury day-to-day streetwear.
The late designer sold his brand to LVMH back in 1993 and stepped away from the brand six years later.
Takada was born in 1939 and developed a passion for drawing and sewing. He went to France in 1965 and though it was supposed to be a stopover, he ended up staying there permanently.
He was inspired by French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, an interest encouraged by his teacher at Bunka who had trained in Paris.
Takada was famous not only for his clothes, but went on to create a global brand of perfume and skin products.
He created a line for men back in 1983, and in 1988 he created his first perfume; Kenzo Kenzo.
At the time of his death he was acting honorary president of the Asian Couture Federation.
