Istituto Marangoni, a prestigious institution known for its Italian heritage, is thrilled to announce a unique collaboration with With Love, Halston Foundation at its Mumbai campus. It’s set to be a groundbreaking scholarship program designed to foster young talent in fashion for international markets, while also teaching them about the genius behind Halston’s creations. Additionally, the renowned handmade tailoring and embroidery firm, The Rilievi Group, has joined forces with the institute to back the students’ collections. This joint effort seeks to nurture and support the upcoming generation of fashion innovators while honouring Halston’s legacy.
Halston was an American fashion designer who began his career as an illustrator and window artist in Chicago. In the early 1950s, Halston started his own business as a milliner and quickly gained a celebrity clientele. He then worked at the prestigious Bergdorf Goodman department store designing dresses and masks for the famous Black and White Ball. He went on to open his own couture atelier on Madison Avenue. Halston redefined American fashion, so to speak. He personally appointed his granddaughter Lesley Frowick as his keeper of the archives. Her mission is to carry on Halston’s legacy at the highest level. She has now teamed up with fashion industry experts Steve Gold, Audrey Schilt and Scott Vogel to launch the With Love, Halston scholarship initiative. Together, they honour and elevate Halston: the man and genius who put American fashion on the map.
The students will participate in mentorship sessions, workshops, and presentations led by the eminent team of With Love, Halston. Team members Lesley Frowick, Steve Gold, Scott Vogel, and Audrey Schilt will draw inspiration from Halston’s legendary designs and legacy, incorporating local fashion influences to craft unique garments using sustainable methods. Lesley Frowick, Halston’s niece and the Co-founder/Director of The Halston Personal Archives, discusses Halston’s life, early influences, famous designs, and innovations. Creative Director Audrey Schilt shares her experiences working with Halston at Bergdorf Goodman, highlighting his design brilliance. Additionally, Managing Director Steve Gold and CFO/Director Scott Vogel will talk about Halston’s marketing and business strategies. Throughout the process, the students will receive guidance from the team.
A key aspect of this partnership is the opportunity to collaborate with fashion students from around the world as they explore the global fashion scene for inspiration. A group of distinguished judges, known for their expertise in the Halston design style, will assess each contestant on their originality, appeal to the market, eco-friendliness, adherence to Halston’s style, and personal/editorial presentations. The competition ends with a live fashion show featuring the top seven contestants. Lesley Frowick and Audrey Schilt will be present at the fashion show and award ceremony. The winner of the With Love, Halston Challenge will get a cash prize, funded by a generous donation from The Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation, and a coveted Elsa Peretti Tiffany heart box. The other contestants will also gain access to potential internships, the chance to have their illustrations featured in Fida worldwide, and the opportunity to display their work in a Halston retrospective exhibit.
The newest partnership with Istituto Marangoni in Mumbai offers students a rare chance to explore the rich history of Halston, famous for his clean, simple designs made from cashmere or Ultrasuede, showcasing a laid-back city-style look for American women. The Halston Foundation selected Istituto Marangoni for its worldwide reputation in fashion, design, and art education. With more than eighty years of experience in nurturing Italian fashion and contributing to the development of ready-to-wear, the school has trained numerous talents, supporting the growth of Italian fashion globally. Moving beyond borders, with locations in Florence, Paris, London, Miami, Dubai, Mumbai, Shanghai, and Shenzhen, Istituto Marangoni blends business drive with academic quality, creating a lively environment for students and professionals alike.
