Yiqing Yin confirmed as creative head of Leonard

Young fashion designer Yiqing Yin has been confirmed as the new creative

director of Leonard, replacing Italian Raffaele Borriello, after months of speculation.

Yin, who left China at the age of four to settle in France and study, will present her first collection for Leonard at the Paris ready-to-wear shows in March.

A graduate from Paris' Ecole Nationale Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in 2009, Yin set up her own fashion label and went on to win Andam’s First Collections Prize in 2011. Yin currently presents her collections as an invited member of the Chambre Syndicale Haute Couture, and she will continue to design for her eponymous label as well as for Leonard.

In a short statement, the fashion house said: "Her sophisticated creations, which show finesse and force, will add new pizzazz to Leonard."

Leonard was founded in 1958 and has become known for its innovative printing techniques. The brand is popular in Asia where it has more than 100 stores.