FASHION Magazine

Hot on the heels of Roland Mouret’s appointment as creative director of Robert Clergerie, Kenzo announced today that Opening Ceremony founders Humberto Leon and Carol Lim are taking over as the label’s creative directing duo. The LVMH-owned Japanese label bid adieu to former director Antonio Marras after his final show at Men’s Paris Fashion Week in June. (We wonder whose musical chair he will take next.) Pierre-Yves Roussel, CEO of LVMH’s fashion division, considered 25 candidates for the job of creative director, and though he couldn’t decide on just one, the lead duo are practically sure to re-establish the brand in the U.S. after an eight-year absence.

The two 36-year-olds have never been formally trained in design and plan to hire a team of skilled designers to make their creativity come to life. What they lack in pattern-making skills, they are bound to make up for in matters of retail, marketing, collaboration, and overall company expansion. With a flair for knowing how to make clothing with an air of cool and an indescribable allure, there’s no reason Leon and Lim’s fresh take on fashion won’t be successful at Kenzo. The pair will show their first collection in October for Spring 2012.