In the 12 years since its inception, the LVMH Prize has recognized some of fashion’s era defining talents, uplifting the careers of designers from Shayne Oliver’s Hood By Air to Marine Serre, Simon Porte Jacquemus, and Eli Russell Linnetz of ERL.
This morning, the Prize announced its 2025 class of semifinalists. The 20 labels selected come from 15 countries, including Egypt, Ghana, and Saudi Arabia, all for the very first time. Renaissance Renaissance’s Cynthia Merhej of Lebanon and Soshiotsuki’s Soshi Otsuki of Japan, have both competed for the Prize before, in 2016 and 2021 respectively.
“As the LVMH Prize steps into a new decade, it is my honor once more to welcome some exceptional talents,” said Christian Dior CEO Delphine Arnault in a statement. “With this 2025 edition, we are seeing several compelling trends… from a renewed interest in tailoring, to handcrafted embellishments and bold occasion dressing,” she continued.
The winner of the LVMH Prize will receive a 400,000-euro endowment alongside a one-year mentorship from a dedicated LVMH team. The Karl Lagerfeld Prize will award a 200,000-euro endowment plus a mentorship program, as will the Savoir-Faire Prize, now entering its second year. (Michael Stewart of Standing Ground was the first-ever winner of the latter in 2024.)
The 20 labels will present their collections in Paris on March 5 and 6. From March 5 through March 9, the public will be able to discover the designers’ collections and vote for their eight favorite candidates on lvmhprize.com. Meet the labels below.
Alainpaul by Alain Paul, France, womenswear, menswear and genderless collections
All-In by Benjamin Barron, United States, and Bror August Vestbø, Norway, womenswear and genderless collections
Boyedoe by David Boye-Doe Kusi, Ghana, genderless collections
Francesco Murano by Francesco Murano, Italy, womenswear
Josh Tafoya by Josh Tafoya, United States, genderless collections
KML by Ahmed Hassan, Saudi Arabia, menswear and genderless collections
Meruert Tolegen by Meruert Planul-Tolegen, United States, womenswear
Mfpen by Sigurd Bank, Denmark, womenswear and menswear
Nicklas Skovgaard by Nicklas Skovgaard, Denmark, womenswear
Penultimate by Xiang Gao, China, genderless collections
Pillings by Ryota Murakami, Japan, womenswear
Renaissance Renaissance by Cynthia Merhej, Lebanon, womenswear
Sinead O’Dwyer by Sinéad O’Dwyer, Ireland, womenswear
Soshiotsuki by Soshi Otsuki, Japan, menswear
