Humberto Leon and Carol Lim are set to depart Kenzo this month. The designers – who have acted as creative directors of the brand for eight years – will leave to focus on Opening Ceremony, their other joint business venture, WWD has reported.
The design duo will present their final collection for the house on 23 June during Men's Paris Fashion Week and will then officially leave the company on 1 July.
Leon and Lim were responsible for repositioning the 50-year-old brand as a contemporary label and, during their time, undertook various collaborations with affordable brands, including Vans and H&M. They have also been praised for their support of diversity on the catwalk and for their inventive fashion shows, which often saw live music and even theatre.
"Humberto and Carol consistently brought diversity and inclusion to the forefront at Kenzo, using their collections, fashion shows, advertising, and special projects to engage and galvanise a new generation of creative," Kenzo's chief executive officer, Sylvie Colin said in a statement. "They have always approached everything they do through the lens of customer experience and pioneered a modern vision of what it is to be a creative director. We wish them all the best in their new adventures."
Kenzo is yet to appoint a successor.
