Some of the finalists of the 2020 LVMH Prize. Image credit: LVMH Prize
French conglomerate LVMH has narrowed to eight its list of finalists for the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers 2020.
The company also welcomed to additional judges Virgil Abloh and former Prize finalist, Robyn Rihanna Fenty and Stella McCartney to the jury of the LVMH Prize. Mr. Abloh designs for Louis Vuitton, Ms. Fenty has a joint venture with LVMH and Ms. McCartney is now allied with LVMH.
Twenty young fashion brands presented their collections Feb. 27-28 in Paris to the committee of experts during the semi-final of the LVMH Prize.
Eight designers made the final cut whose final winner of the LVMH Prize and the Karl Lagerfeld Prize will be picked June 5 at the Fondation Louis Vuitton museum in Paris.
The eight finalists are:
Ahluwalia by Priya Ahluwalia (British designer based in London)
Menswear presented in London
Casablanca by Charaf Tajer (French designer based in London)
Menswear presented in Paris
Chopova Lowena by Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena (Bulgarian-American designer and British designer based in London)
Womenswear presented in London
Nicholas Daley by Nicholas Daley (British designer based in London)
Menswear presented in London
Peter Do by Peter Do (American designer based in New York)
Womenswear presented in Paris
Sindiso Khumalo by Sindiso Khumalo (South African designer based in Cape Town)
Womenswear presented in Milan
Surpriya Lele by Supriya Lele (British-Indian designer based in London)
Womenswear presented in London
Tomo Koizumi by Tomotoka Koizumi (Japanese designer based in Tokyo)
Womenswear presented in Tokyo
Five of the finalists design womenswear and the other three menswear.
A Bulgarian designer at this stage of the competition was a first for the prize.
Thebe Magugu from South Africa was the winner of the 2019 edition of the LVMH Prize. Another South African designer was among the finalists this time round as well.
This year, LVMH’s 24S ecommerce store and online retailer MatchesFashion will showcase and sell the apparel and accessories of the finalists of the LVMH Prize to help them gain global exposure.
From left to right: Emmanuelle Alt, Louis Vuitton menswear designer Virgil Abloh and LVMH executive vice president Delphine Arnault at the LVMH Prize 2019 cocktail reception. Image courtesy of LVMH Prize. Photo © François Goize
LVMH on Dec. 2 started inviting entries for its eponymous prize for young designers worldwide under 40 years to identify and mentor emerging talent in fashion.
Applications for the seventh edition of the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers were accepted through Feb. 2. Applicants should have produced at least a couple of womenswear, menswear or unisex collections (see story).