Fashion career profile
Felipe Oliveira Baptista
Felipe Oliveira Baptista is a Portuguese fashion designer who has held creative leadership roles at Lacoste and KENZO. Born in the Azores, he studied fashion design in London and established an independent label in Paris in 2003. He became Creative Director of Lacoste in 2010, bringing a broader fashion perspective to a sportswear house, and concluded that role in 2018. LVMH appointed him Creative Director of KENZO in 2019; he left the maison in 2021 before Nigo’s appointment. Earlier in his career, Baptista received recognition at Hyères and through the ANDAM prize and developed work across womenswear, menswear and accessories. His career moved between an independent design practice and leadership inside companies with very different sporting, streetwear and luxury identities.
- Role
- Former Creative Director, KENZO and Lacoste; independent designer
- Career appointments
- 1
- Fashion houses
- 1
- Education: Fashion Design, Kingston UniversityBaptista studied fashion design in London before establishing his Paris label. · British Vogue
- Background: Born in the Azores, PortugalHis Portuguese background preceded his studies and professional career in London and Paris. · British Vogue
- Independent label: Founded a Paris label in 2003The independent label preceded his house creative-director appointments. · British Vogue
- Lacoste: Creative Director, 2010–2018The eight-year role preceded his KENZO appointment. · British Vogue
- KENZO: Creative Director, 2019–2021LVMH dates his leadership from 2019 until Nigo’s appointment in 2021. · LVMH
- 2003 — Establishes his independent Paris labelThe label preceded his major house appointments.
- 2010 — Becomes Creative Director of LacosteHe led the French sportswear label until 2018.
- 2019 — Appointed Creative Director of KENZOLVMH appointed Baptista to the Paris maison.
- 2021 — Leaves KENZOHis tenure ended as Nigo took up the house role.
- 2019–2021 — Creative Director — KENZOHistorical appointment · LVMH