Famed designer defends fashion contest
From left, Korean designer Chang Kwang-hyo; Vittorio Missoni, chief executive of Missoni; and Won Dae-yeon, president of the Korea Fashion Association.
That was the message from the Italian designer Vittorio Missoni, the chief executive of Missoni.
He was in Korea recently as a judge for the Korea National Fashion Design Contest, Korea’s most prestigious contest in fashion design. Missoni is the first judge to be invited from overseas.
The contest, now in its 25th year, was supported by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy.
In response to comments from reporters that the contest has yet to produce any star designers, Missoni said the main goal was to produce a strong team of specialists rather than famous personalities.
“The goal of such a contest is not to produce superstars but operators who make up the fashion industry, which is in need of specialists, such as pattern makers, stylists, merchandisers, window dressers and so on,” he said at the press conference held at the Park Hyatt hotel.
Missoni said that the Mittlemoda Fashion Award, which is open to international designers, has produced thousands of winners over the years, but only two became big stars: Alber Elbaz and Antonio Marras.
This year’s “star” at the Korean National Fashion Design Content was Kang Hyun-kyung, 22, of Sejong University. She received the presidential honor for her conceptual piece, a box whose pattern opened up to cover a human body, and for a pair of well-executed outfits in neutral colors that were more modern and trendy.
“From the first meeting, I knew she had it all together,” Missoni said. “She was the only candidate with a clear concept.”
The winning work titled “Package for Human Being” by Kang Hyun-kyung. Provided by Korea Fashion Association
Two veteran Korean designers ― Lie Sang-bong, who recently released his spring/summer collections in Paris, and Jin Seong-mo, a professor at Kookmin University, who won the National Contest’s grand prize 25 years ago ― provided the highlights of the event.
The contest was held at the Seoul Trade, Exhibition and Convention Center in southern Seoul.
Menswear designer Chang Kwang-hyo headed the panel of judges.
By Ines Cho Contributing Writer
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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