Meet the Semi-Finalists of the LVMH Prize for Young Designers

It’s the moment every fashionista eagerly awaits: the announcement of the semifinalists for the prestigious LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers. Here is everything you need to know about the 20 talented contestants from 15 countries, all vying for the Prize in three categories. The main LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers offers a €400,000 grant and a one-year mentorship from LVMH teams, while two additional awards—the Karl Lagerfeld Prize and the Savoir-Faire Prize—both offer €200,000 and a personalized one-year mentorship program.

The 12th edition of the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers is bigger and bolder than ever, proving its global buzz with over 2,300 applications pouring in from across the world. This year’s contenders represent 15 different countries, making it a truly international-style showdown! Together, these designers weave a colourful tapestry of global fashion, each contributing unique threads of innovation, heritage, and style. Here is your know-how guide about every semifinalist based on their geographical location.

France
ALAINPAUL by Alain Paul celebrates French savoir-faire with an inventive blend of womenswear and menswear that reflect a timeless yet modern aesthetic. Before transitioning into fashion, Alain was a professional dancer, and he seamlessly integrates elements of this art form into his collections, which are showcased in Paris.

United Kingdom
Steve O’Smith translates his detailed drawings into wearable works of art, while Tolu Coker’s designs combine artisan craftsmanship with innovative techniques to create gender-fluid, sustainable pieces that tell powerful cultural stories inspired by his Nigerian origins. Torisheju, created by the trailblazing British designer of Nigerian-Brazilian heritage Torishéju Dumi, offers a creative mix of womenswear and menswear, transforming deadstock fabrics into forward-thinking, narrative-driven pieces. And we will never forget how Naomi Campbell opened and closed her “Fire on the Mountain” show last year in Paris.

United States & Norway

Innovation takes centre stage in ALL-IN, a cross-continental collaboration between Benjamin Barron (USA) and Bror August Vestbø (Norway), where inventive womenswear and genderless designs merge effortlessly. Styled by Lotta Volkova, their collections became a highlight of Paris Fashion Week, where they show off-schedule in the most unexpected locations. In the United States alone, New York-based Meruert Tolegen delivers delicate, modern womenswear, blending European design sensibilities with a nod to her Kazakh heritage. Meanwhile, while New Mexico’s Josh Tafoya creates bold, expressive, artisanal collections, blurring the line between wearable fashion and sculptural art, telling the stories of the Southwest while challenging conventional ideas of American fashion.

Ghana
Boyedoe by David Boye-Doe Kusi presents striking environmentally conscious collections that capture African fashion's vibrant spirit and innovative pulse. Drawing inspiration from the mythical Sankofa bird—a symbol of looking to the past to move forward—his designs celebrate Ghanaian culture and heritage.

Italy
Born and raised in a small town in the province of Salerno in Campania, Francesco Murano is one of Italy's most promising design talents. His elegant designs, which echo Southern Italy’s rich heritage of craftsmanship and style, have been worn by Beyoncé at the Grammys in 2020, and have graced the cover of Vogue Italia. Inspired by the philosophical ideas of Nietzsche and Heraclitus, the designer seeks to balance rationality with irrationality in his garments—melding clean, structured silhouettes with unexpected, abstract elements.

Saudi Arabia
KML by Ahmed and Razan Hassan challenges conventions with daring and sharp menswear designs that fuse traditional Middle Eastern attire with modern streetwear influences. The label gained international attention when Zendaya’s stylist, Law Roach, showcased their designs during the “1001 Seasons of Elie Saab” event in Riyadh.

Denmark
Scandi talents shine with dual expressions: MFPEN by Sigurd Bank masterfully balances womenswear and menswear with Scandinavian minimalism and champions eco-conscious practices, while Nicklas Skovgaard refines womenswear with a touch of modern Nordic sophistication. Within three seasons of showing at local Copenhagen Fashion Week, Skovgaard became one of its biggest stalwarts.

China
Based in the US, Penultimate by Xiang Gao redefines modern design with genderless collections that blend traditional influences with a futuristic vision, bridging East and West. Gao’s Chinese heritage and her experiences in the US, where she studied at Parsons School of Design and worked under Raf Simons at Calvin Klein, serve as key sources of inspiration.

Japan
Pillings by Ryota Murakami reinvents womenswear with playful sophistication and innovative and colourful knitwear techniques. Meanwhile, Soshiotsuki by Soshi Otsuki crafts menswear that is both crisp and contemporary, integrating traditional Japanese elements such as kimono sleeves, judo belts, and prayer beads, reimagined into modern silhouettes.

Lebanon
Cynthia Merhej of RENAISSANCE RENAISSANCE is a third-generation couturier (her mother and grandmother both had ateliers in Beirut) offering an elegant approach to womenswear. She gracefully intertwines cultural legacy with modern design innovation, often incorporating symbols of resistance and resilience, such as the keffiyeh — a traditional Middle Eastern headdress.

Ireland
Irish-born and London-based, Sinead O’Dwyer brings a fresh, distinctly feminine perspective to womenswear, marked by a blend of tradition from her native Ireland and modern edge. Known for her body-positive approach, she has been challenging traditional beauty standards within the fashion industry.

Egypt
Winner of the Fashion Trust Arabia Eveningwear Award in 2019, Yasmin Mansour channels Egypt’s rich cultural tapestry into inspiring, upcycled womenswear designs that are both bold and beautifully expressive.

South Korea
Young N Sang, founded by Sang Lim Lee and Youngshin Hong, embodies South Korea’s cutting-edge spirit in menswear. The brand merges traditional nuances with urban innovation while developing innovative hand-weaving techniques.

The Netherlands
Founded by designer Danial Aitouganov and stylist Imruh Asha, Zomer (meaning “Summer” in Dutch) captures the essence of art and design in vibrant, forward-thinking womenswear. With kaleidoscopic colors and unpredictable textures, their pieces make a refreshing mark on the global fashion scene.

And that’s not all. This year again, the LVMH Prize will take place in a digital and participatory format on the dedicated website lvmhprize.com. From March 5 to 9, you will be able to discover the designers and vote for your eight favourite candidates, just like the Industry experts. Set the date in your calendar, and choose your favourite emerging fashion star.

Courtesy: LVMH

Text: Lidia Ageeva