Nigo
Artistic director of Kenzo (since September 2021)
Nigo, born Tomoaki Nagao, is a Japanese designer and streetwear pioneer who founded A Bathing Ape in 1993 and Human Made in 2010. Since September 2021 he has been artistic director of Kenzo at LVMH, making him one of the most prominent figures linking Japanese street culture and European luxury.
| Role | Artistic director, Kenzo |
|---|---|
| Since | September 2021 |
| Founded | A Bathing Ape (1993), Human Made (2010) |
| Real name | Tomoaki Nagao |
| Born | 23 December 1970, Maebashi |
Who is Nigo?
Nigo was born Tomoaki Nagao on 23 December 1970 in Maebashi, Japan. He is one of the founding figures of Tokyo's Ura-Harajuku streetwear scene and has spent three decades turning limited edition clothing, sneakers and collectibles into global cultural phenomena. Since September 2021 he has served as artistic director of Kenzo, the Paris house owned by LVMH, and he continues to run his own brand Human Made.
Career
In 1993 Nigo founded A Bathing Ape, known as Bape, which began by selling hoodies and camouflage prints from a small store. The same year he co founded the store Nowhere in Ura-Harajuku with Jun Takahashi of Undercover. Key milestones since then include:
- 2002: the Bapesta sneaker, which became a highly collectable shoe
- 2003: Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream, created with Pharrell Williams
- 2010: launch of Human Made; 2013: final departure from Bape
- 2014: creative director of Uniqlo's UT graphic T shirt line
- 2020: a capsule collection with Louis Vuitton and Virgil Abloh
- September 2021: artistic director of Kenzo
He also released a solo album, I Know Nigo!, in 2022 and became creative partner of the Australian winery Penfolds in 2023. A retrospective of his work was announced for London's Design Museum in 2026, his first outside Japan.
Influence on the fashion business
Nigo was among the first designers to build a fashion brand on scarcity, collaboration and community, principles that now underpin the drop model used across streetwear and luxury. At Kenzo he has worked to reconnect the house with founder Kenzo Takada's legacy. For autumn/winter 2026 he presented a collection at Takada's former home in Paris, combining American workwear, Asian motifs and Italian tailoring and reviving archive elements such as the tiger from the 1980s Jungle line and the Kite bag from 1986.
Why it matters
Nigo's appointment at Kenzo was a clear signal that luxury groups now see streetwear expertise and cultural credibility as core leadership qualities. His career, from Bape to Uniqlo to LVMH, shows how ideas developed in a small Tokyo scene can shape global retail, collaboration strategy and brand building. As one of the few Japanese designers leading a Paris house founded by a Japanese designer, he also carries particular symbolic weight.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Nigo?
Nigo is a Japanese designer, born Tomoaki Nagao, who founded A Bathing Ape in 1993 and Human Made in 2010. He has been artistic director of Kenzo since September 2021.
Is Nigo still at Kenzo?
Yes. Nigo presented Kenzo's autumn/winter 2026 collection in Paris in January 2026 as the brand's artistic director.