FORGET about the ox and the tiger; KENZO is anticipating the reign of the polar bear with their ice-cold capsule this winter. Through Sunday, fashionistas are invited to explore a KENZO pop-up store at the Time Plaza at the MixC World in Nanshan District, where they can pose for photos with a puffed up polar bear and igloos, check out the newest winter fashion and pick up a piece or two to fight the cold weather that has crept into our southern city this week. A throwback to the ’90s, and in keeping with a decades-long obsession with wildlife’s most captivating creatures, the French fashion house has resurrected their favorite arctic motif for the winter season. Think icy outerwear, from ocean blue jackets in technical materials, to glacier-white mohair knits that are effortlessly smooth to the touch. Lone or layered, the graphic mammal appears on sweatshirts, tees and accessories, meaning there’s more than enough Takada-esque nostalgia to go around. And it doesn’t stop there. Having teamed up with designer Marzia Bellotti, the legendary motif also spills over into their colorful KHRISJOY collab. The brand has been hard at work over the last few years, perfecting their goose-down puffer jackets from top to bottom, with the collaboration bringing the emerging label’s signature styles of cocoon-like silhouettes and graphic logo drawstrings to the fore. Flitting between palettes of cool sky-blues, warm pink sunsets and an explosion of fluro shades you’d find in a pack of primary school highlighters, KENZO’s immersive charm is unmistakable here. With mischief sewed straight into the collection, the duo has managed to concoct something for everyone to dazzle the cold in, whether it’s the outdoorsy ski-raver or the fireplace-hugging wine chugger. Last Friday afternoon, young Chinese singer-actor Wang Hedi met fans at the Shenzhen pop-up store. Wang, best known for portraying Daoming Si in the 2018 television series “Meteor Garden,” is featured in the ads of the winter capsule. “The arctic often reminds me of purity, an obsession with seeking extreme experience and the polar bear,” he said at the occasion. “The polar bear motif also reminds us of the urgency to make wise choices in environmental protection.” The pop-up store will also travel to landmark shopping centers in Shanghai, Beijing, and Chengdu, capital city of Southwest China’s Sichuan Province. The KENZO winter capsule and the KENZO x KHRISJOY collaboration are now available on KENZO.com and in KENZO stores worldwide. The fashion house was founded in 1970 by Japanese designer Kenzo Takada in Paris.(Debra Li) | 