Roh Kyeongeoun wins Leonard Paris bursary for Istituto Maragoni Paris

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Feb 2, 2021

Roh Kyeongeoun has won the debut 'Istituto Marangoni Paris Leonard Paris' master’s degree bursary, in a novel new design collaboration held Tuesday in the French capital.

Kyeongeoun was one of six finalists to participate in Leonard Paris X Istituto Marangoni Paris, a collaboration between the Paris fashion house and the French wing of the international fashion college.

Each participant presented a single outfit and lookbook based on fabrics from Leonard Paris’ latest collection, the first by its new creative director Georg Lux.

The designated winner will have her total look produced and sold on Leonard Paris' own website. She will also enjoy a six-month internship at Leonard Paris, which will finance a scholarship to the full-year master’s program at the Istituto Marangoni Paris.

“I couldn’t be happier and more honored,” smiled the Korean-born winner, who showed a broken big-cat-print crepe evening dress finished with a black floral velvet kimono jacket.

As part of the competition, Leonard Paris CEO Nathalie Tribouillard briefed all six students on the maison’s DNA, know-how and codes. The six finalists included Clara Boublil, Perla El Khoury, Andre Falcao, Marie Renaudat and Victoria Valitchkaia. All were granted access to the archives and workshops, as well as accessibility to the Leonard Paris studio.

"We are extremely pleased to discover these young talents and to open our secret drawers and know-how to help them build their future," commented Tribouillard.

While Valérie Berdah Levy, Istituto Marangoni Paris school director, noted: "We are thrilled to offer our students the opportunity to work with a prestigious and renowned Maison such as Leonard Paris. This project helps to support young students at the end of their studies and prepares them for the reality and high demanding professional realm. We thank Leonard Paris for making this project come to life.”

The final was staged inside’s Leonard Paris' 8th arrondissement mansion and judged by a jury that included Amy Verner, Vogue.com contributor; Mélanie Huynh, fashion stylist and founder of beauty brand Holidermie; and Godfrey Deeny, FashionNetwork.com global editor in chief.