Kenneth Ize Steps Up With Paris Fashion Week Debut

PARIS — This time last year, Kenneth Ize was preparing to showcase his work in Paris as one of the semifinalists of the LVMH Prize for Young Designers. Twelve months on, he’s gearing up for his first runway show in the French capital, to be held on the opening day of Paris Fashion Week. “I wasn’t expecting this to come that soon, so it’s just an amazing journey,” marveled the Nigerian designer, who made it to the finals of the LVMH Prize. Though he didn’t leave with an award, the connections he made in Paris have opened many doors, with Ize’s retail network doubling to 18 stores for the spring 2020 season. Having shown at Arise Fashion Week last April, he’s ready to bring his gender-fluid collection to a bigger stage, with the support of Naomi Campbell, who co-owns the fashion week held in Lagos. The British model is expected at the Paris show, to be held at the Palais de Tokyo on Feb. 24, though whether she will model for Ize again, or sit in the front row, is undecided. “I just need to grow this brand and I need to open it to investors,” Ize said of his decision to show in

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