Laurent Thévenau
Age: 27 years old
Current Position: Fashion Editor at Essentielle Magazine and Lifestyle Magazine
One of the most important people in Mauritius working in fashion today isn’t talked about in the press because he works for the press. Yet Laurent Thévenau’s influence has been of primordial importance: those incredible editorial spreads in Lifestyle magazine, such as the one featuring the model Dany Le Bon – they could have been in GQ. The quality of these magazines has shot up, thanks to him.
Photographer: Jean Paul Mussoodee
Stylists: Naïma Somet and Laurent Thévenau
Laurent was born in South Africa, and left when he was five years old for Paris, where he completed all his studies.
He knew next to nothing about fashion when he first started as an intern at the press office of the Madame Figaro magazine, where he assisted fashion editors and stylists in numerous photoshoots, eventually becoming fashion assistant for the magazine. He then joined RPC Communication (who work with brands such as as Salvatore Ferregamo, Etro, Chloe Enfants amongst others) as an
assistant press officer for seven months.
Essentielle Magazine
Photographer: Clyde Koa Wing
Stylist: Laurent Thévenau
So how did he end up working for Vogue Hommes International?
He knew Carine Roitfeld’s assistant at the time, and he asked if there was any internship opportunities available at Vogue. She replied the affirmative, so he sent his C.V. There was a greater need, however, for someone to work for Vogue Hommes International, and so Laurent was sent there instead. He worked there for three months, after which Conde Nast offered him a spot at Air France Madame. There he worked for a year as a fashion assistant, and during that year he learnt how to style. He met the fashion editor of Vogue Paris, Ludivine Poiblanc, and became her second assistant. He then worked as the first assistant of Poiblanc’s assistant, Davina L. She in turn became a freelance fashion editor, and Laurent then worked for her as a freelance assistant.
Vogue Hommes International
Assistant Stylist: Laurent Thévenau(Obviously, I couldn’t resist asking about my icon, Carine Roitfeld. Turns out he saw her almost every day in the Conde Nast building! And she is apparently very nice to everybody. My admiration for this incredible woman has increased, if that was even possible).
He stopped working in fashion for a brief period after that, and returned to fashion in 2009, working in the press office of Paul Smith for four months. He then came to Mauritius for a holiday and fell in love with the country– he left his job back in Paris and settled here. He currently works as the fashion editor for Lifestyle and Essentielle Magazine, a job he has held for the past three years.
Vogue Hommes International
Assistant Stylist: Laurent ThévenauWhat do you think of the Mauritian fashion industry?
The evolution of the industry is very interesting, especially in the past year. Designers are producing clothes of high quality, of high craftsmanship. Take Sanjeet Boolell’s Aurore Borealis collection last year – I believe it could have been held in Paris, it seemed in no way inferior to what I had experienced back there! Today we can truly say that we can export Mauritian designers, showcase their work to the world. And they must travel and show their work – if they stay here they will not make themselves known.
Have you encountered any problems working in Mauritius?
Generally speaking, I think that the local press doesn't enjoy the financial resources needed to reach its full potential.
Lifestyle Magazine October 2012
Stylist: Laurent Thévenau
Photographer: Sachin Sagar
Model: Jasmina Ruben
What of your experience working in Mauritius?
Mauritius is one of the best experiences I have had after Paris, because here I was given the opportunity to show what I could do. I met Naïma Somet (an ex-editorial assistant at Prisma Press who formerly worked for Marie Claire France) in this country, and she remains to this day the best professional encounter that I have ever made. When she left Essentielle magazine it greatly affected me and forced me to show what I could do as a fashion editor.
Lifestyle Magazine August 2012
Stylist: Laurent Thevenau
Model: Dany Le Bon
Photographer: Sachin Sagar
I have met and have been moved by so many incredible Mauritian artists; for instance, I am a huge fan of Gael Froget’s work, he has a very different vision. Valerie Lee is a professional contact of great importance. Sachin Sagar and I both work very well together, we understand each other’s ideas. There are so many other talented photographers – Jean Paul Mussoodee, Clyde Koa Wing, Khatleen Minerve – and Karen Pang! I look up to her in amazement, she is so talented, and deserves to shine internationally. I am currently working with her and Gael for the next issue of Essentielle Magazine, and it’s such a great experience! I believe that we have very professional models working here too, such as Katia Moochooram, Jasmina Ruben, Laetitia Darche, Raquel Rault to speak only of a few.
xoxo
Alex
Email: stylemauritius@live.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/StyleMauritius
Twitter: @stylemauritius / @Alex_W_Isaacs
