KENZO Spring/Summer 2019 campaign shot in LA by pop culture photographer, David LaChapelle, has officially launched. The campaign takes a unique approach through a surreal utopia to collocate suburbia, nature, and urbanity. The goal was to shine a spotlight on the human spirit that, through all odds, manages to remain consistent in each environment.
The cast reflects multiple generations made up of models and local dancers, musicians, and students; as well as a cameo from Humberto’s mother, Wendy Leon. For many of those featured in the campaign, it was their first fashion project.
The colorful clothing and the abstract campaign work together to breathe life into a still image. Making you see movement and the magic of this very utopian visual.
Lachapelle on the KENZO collab: “I’ve been working on that for the last 11 years in Maui, which is this very much paradisaical background. Many of the photos \[of Maui\] were used as the backdrops for these KENZO interiors. The surreal aspect of the shoot was that these exterior photos were used as interiors for rooms, and the ones of paradise were shot in Maui where I live. Part of this series that I’ve been working on called “A New World”, that culminated in the exhibitions \[and the books\] “Lost and Found” and “Good News,” are very much present there. So, these are the photos you see in the KENZO shoot with the waterfalls and the tropical settings and sort of jungle. The utopic and heavenly looking, natural spots were all shot in Maui. It felt great to just step into KENZO’s world and take another look at utopia with Humberto and the team at KENZO, just creating this whole new glimpse of it, and referencing my own pictures in this sort of surreal way which serves it really well. I didn’t want to shoot against other people’s photos, and I just came up with this idea to put the exterior on the interior of these rooms.”
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Kenzo Spring/Summer 2019 campaign photographed by David LaChapelle
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