23 Mar. 2010

LEE JEAN YOUN FOR MANGO

Lee Jean Youn, winner of the second El Botón – Mango Fashion Award, has designed a limited edition collection, which will be available in stores and on Mangoshop.com on May 1.

The Korean designer, who was born in 1978 and received his PhD in fashion design at the University of Hongik, won last April’s competition with his combination of simplicity and romanticism. Accordingly, Youn for Mango combined traditional elements from Asia with a European rock chic sensibility in his suits, dresses for special occasions, trousers, asymmetrical pieces, and high platform sandals. Overall, 11 looks will be available to purchase, ranging from €25 to €150.

The El Botón – Mango Fashion Award gives young designers from around the world the opportunity to participate in an international fashion design competition, and is held every 18 months. The third edition of the contest will take place this April, with contestants vying for the top prize of €300,000. Winners of the first El Botón contest, Sandrina Fasoli and Michael Märson, also designed a limited edition collection for Mango that was a retail hit.

—Susannah Carey