PARIS, Oct 10, 2004/ FW/ – Light filters through a giant geometrical grate, a zig zag catwalk meanders behind before meeting a desert plain, as the sounds of beating African drums accompany Antonio Marras for Kenzo spring summer 2005 on a trip to ‘Another Africa’ in a cocktail of colors, symbolism, emotions and religions.

This is a place of dreams, where multi culturalism is a blessing, color celebrated, pride shared and the eccentric charming.

Marras for Kenzo curiously mixes patterns like stripes with intricate embroidery, volume is essential for skirts and trousers while large print like fruit, floral, landscapes and checks linger joyfully.

While suits are deconstructed and signatory Marras asymmetry exalted, tailoring is essential as jackets appear neat and precise as additional contrast to a collection that is a combination of Maestro Kenzo’s ideals and Marras’s Bravura.

Cultural exchanges from gypsy skirt chic freedom to hints of the snug and narrow Asian obo and kimono, African bright colors and South American geometry, Kenzo offers a wardrobe of sincere happiness for his cultural goddesses.

Marras embraces the incredible grandeur of South Africa sincerely by placing slogans like ‘We must eat our suckers with the wrappers on’ in support of the AIDS problem that is literally destroying a nation.

As the orchestra stops playing and time seems to stand still, we are in awe of the live drum beats that vibrate, the clapping that moves even the front row and voices that sing to the heavens as dancers weave between the audience contorting their bodies and jumping in ecstasy.

Nelson Mandela once said ‘I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself’, if only he had been at the Kenzo show last night as the house came down, we rose from our seats and smiles beamed uncontrollably.

Kenzo

Kenzo

Kenzo

Kenzo