WHAT? NIGO: From Japan with Love

WHERE? The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG

WHEN? Now until 4th October

WHY GO?
To be in with the IN crowd. If you know, you know and every savvy street-style fan knows the name NIGO, even though he is something of an enigma and few have actually seen him in public. Even now, he prefers anonymity, which all adds to the suspense of this colossal retrospective, the first ever staging of NIGO’s work.

Not to be confused with NIKE, though the two sound similar and are linked since NIGO designs for the uber-cool sportswear brand as well as being the Artistic Director of Paris fashion house Kenzo. He is a multi-faceted design talent and marketing maverick, switching from streetwear and luxury fashion to music, architecture and interior design and has collaborated with the likes of Pharrell Williams and top fashion names Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs.

This exhibition is an epic design trip, starting with NIGO’s early teenage influences, from retro Americana to Japanese playful figurines, with architecture, music and interior design inspirations thrown in for good measure.

In short, it’s a roller-coaster of cultural references that have inspired the creative Japanese designer, a genius at marketing even though he personally remains behind the scenes.

The finale winds down on a more temperate tone, as NIGO reveals yet another talent, the quieter pursuit of crafting ceramics which are displayed in the calm aura of a reconstructed traditional Japanese tea house.

IN THE KNOW
Extending the whole NIGO hype, fans can buy into his world. The Design Museum’s shop is hosting a Nike pop-up with Nike x NIGO LO2 Air Force 1 apparel, plus sweaters, caps and T-shirts, all potential collectable memorabilia.