Recent Central Saint Martins grad Paolina Russo won the school’s prestigious L’Oréal Professionnel Young Talent Award for a BA collection very timely in the #MeToo era. Russo imagines her sexy woman in up-cycled corsets made from deconstructed soccer cleats and balls, hockey helmets, and other gym-class staples. Russo won the prize for her ‘I Forgot Home’ in stiff competition that included 100 other students at Central Saint Martins, a school with an acceptance rate of 7%.

In 2016 Paolina Russo assumed the prestigious couture internship at Maison Martin Margiela under the creative direction of John Galliano. The designer was inspired by Russo's work and aesthetic citing her as a major inspiration in a conversation with Tim Blanks at the BOF "Voices" conference.

Solange Knowles has already worn one of Russo’s corsets in a Dazed editorial shot by Jackie Nickerson. who is now pursuing an MA at Central Martins. See more photos from Paolina Russo’s award-winning collection. Three items are for sale online at Selfridges, which is also a very good sign for Russo’s future.

Featured