The history of awards in the fashion world is filled with moments that have marked the beginning of acclaimed careers and characters.
An emblematic example is 1954, the year in which the promising and young Karl Lagerfeld received a prize – today known as the Woolmark Prize – for the innovative design of his coats. This award not only brought him the attention of the fashion world but also opened the doors to his career, leading him to be hired as an assistant to Pierre Balmain (judge of the contest).
Over the years, awards have changed, adapting to the needs of a sector in continuous revolution. Among these, the LVMH prize for Young Fashion Designers is renowned as one of the most prestigious initiatives. It was launched in 2013 by LVMH with the ambition to discover, recognize, and support emerging talents. This competition, which now stands out as a benchmark for creativity and innovation, owes its prestige not only to the importance of the promoting company but also to the caliber of its judges, including Lagerfeld himself, witnesses of the excellence and vision that the prize expresses.
The prize is open to fashion designers with 18 to 40 years old, and coming from all over the world. The only requirement is for them to have created at least two collections of either women, men, or genderless clothing. The contest includes different prizes: the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers and the Karl Lagerfeld Prize, aimed to recognize the creativity of young brands. Moreover, on the occasion of the prize’s 11th edition, Delphine Arnault declared “The Prize is launching its 11th edition and this year I am delighted to honor our attachment to a core value of creation, savoir-faire. The LVMH Savoir-Faire Prize celebrates excellence in craftsmanship, innovation in design and production, and a more sustainable approach to fashion”. Each prize provides the endowment of a significant amount (200,000 to 400,000 euros) and no less than a personalized mentorship from the LVMH teams, which enables them to accurately investigate aspects of the fashion business.
Since it was first established, the LVMH Prize has recognized growing success each year, with 3,000+ designers participating from 102 countries at the 2024 edition – a record number – and the prizes have grown accordingly. The visibility and opportunities offered to the participants, and not only the finalists, have been enormous; this enables them to present their works to the jury and take advantage of the competition’s media coverage. LVMH and its maisons provide an exceptional network of contacts and prospects, being a springboard for new talents while bringing them to the attention of local and international people.
Success Stories
What makes the renew of the LVMH Prize is definitely its ability to “create” the next generation of world-famous designers every year. And very surprisingly, the candidates that then go on with a long and successful career are not always the ones that win or even make it to the finals, just as if taking part in this contest was already enough to prove your talent.
Simon Porte Jacquemus
At only 19, Jacquemus created his brand animated by the desire to innovate in fashion but also by his mom’s death. In nine collections, it grew from 12 items per collection to 106 while keeping his prices low.
Simon won the special prize of the year 2015 which was at that point the only outside investment he had.
Marine Serre
After working for important names in the world of luxury (Margiela and Dior), the now famous designer had the chance to launch her label by winning the prize in 2016. Indeed, she used the money to rent her first studio and employ a small starting team that helped her create her first collection. Eight months later, she had a full line of accessories sold by several international retailers.
“It wasn’t something I was planning to do. I wanted to have a brand but I didn’t think it would happen tomorrow.”
Marine Serre
Nensi Dojaka
Even if she was slowly becoming famous already before taking part in the Prize,the 31-year-old Albanian designer definitely benefited from winning the Prize in 2021.
“I think we all saw a young brand with real potential to grow. These first ideas are very clear, and we feel she can pull on that thread to broaden out and develop her product offering to have even more creative and commercial potential to a wider audience.”
Delphine Arnault
In fact, Dojaka was already attracting very famous customers such as Bella Hadid, Kaia Gerber or Emily Ratajkowski but she needed help to expand internationally and build a bigger team that would allow the brand to stabilize.
Virgil Abloh
In 2015, Virgil Abloh figured among the finalists of the LVMH Prize. He had previously worked as a creative director for Kanye West and created his own label, Off-White. However, the Prize boosted his career and eventually led him to become the artistic director of Louis Vuitton men in 2018. The designer sadly passed away in november 2021 and was paid honor by Delphine Arnault during the ceremony of the following Prize.
Demna Gvasalia
Before launching his own label in 2014, the Georgian designer started his career in 2009 at Maison Margiela then moving to Louis Vuitton in 2013. After producing 3 collections for Vêtements, his brand, he was nominated with his brother for the Young Fashion Designer Prize. One year later, he was nominated creative director of Balenciaga and walked the stairs of the Met Gala in 2021 with Kim Kardashian fully dressed in Balenciaga.
In conclusion, the LVMH Prize is not simply an award for talents but also a manifestation of LVMH’s dedication to creativity, sustainability, and outstanding design. Every season adds another page at the annals of style, motivating future designers and shaping the growth of the sector. LVMH nurtures this promise annually by providing the best emerging fashion designers from all over the world with a chance to showcase their skills thus consolidating its place as an industry leader.
