Fashion Design students from Istituto Marangoni Paris have proved their creative worth at the 30th international Jeunes Créateurs competition organised by Talons Aiguilles, now France’s leading fashion student association. The association promotes fashion talent and a more responsible fashion business and supports numerous eco-responsible initiatives. For the contest, 20 young designers present their creations to a jury of professionals, including fashion designer Christophe Guillarme, vintage fashion expert Sophia Elizabeth, photograph and artist Sophia Elizabeth and fashion consultant Francesca Vigna. The theme for this year’s edition, held on April 11th in Lille, was «Erotica 1992», a tribute to the legendary rock singer Madonna. 

Isabella Fuquen is among the students who made it to the finals. A Master’s student in Womenswear Fashion Design at Istituto Marangoni Paris, she believes that fashion can impact the world positively and strives to be part of the change. Inspired by the beauty of diversity and the importance of cultural exchange, her ultimate goal is to create apparel that makes people feel good about themselves and the world around them. For the contest, Isabella offered a unique perspective on bondage and freedom in erotic culture. The rope in her designs represents lust and bondage, female empowerment, and breaking free from chains and constraints.

Isabella’s fellow Master’s student in Womenswear Fashion Design at Istituto Marangoni Paris Alba Vidal Porto was honoured with the prestigious Sustainable Collection Award. Alba was born and raised in Brazil, where she graduated in fashion design. As part of her training, she spent a semester at Esmod Paris and fell in love with French fashion, history and expertise, which she blended with her unique personality and her country’s exuberant diversity. From her in-depth investigation into Madonna’s erotic days, Alba realised that making the skin comfortable was also critical. Her inspiration focused on stockings, seen as a second skin. This project’s central concept comes from how we view women’s bodies and society’s pressure on them.

Last but not least, the Talons Aiguilles Competition recognised Zhiming Liu as its Student Collection Award winner. A Fashion Institute of Technology graduate, Zhiming is currently studying at Istituto Marangoni in Paris. Keen about fashion since childhood, Zhiming Liu is fascinated by Junya Watanabe’s avant-garde aesthetics and Phoebe Philo’s minimalism. For her, fashion is about diversity, inventive tailoring and timelessness. With Athena as her muse, her concept for the Talons Aiguilles competition focused on placing women‘s clothing on the same level as men’s, using three elements to symbolise equality: the suit, trousers and a contemporary corset. The designer imagined the suit as Athena’s armour, manifesting her equal status as a man. The trousers stand as the lance she can use to defeat the obstacles that may stand in her way. The corset is like her aegis, embodying bravery and wisdom.