Meet the Winners of the LVMH Prize

Who says la rentrée doesn’t come with surprises? September in Paris means the announcement of the winners of the LVMH Prize, one of the most prestigious distinctions for emerging designers. The 12th edition of the Prize for Young Fashion Designers was bigger and bolder than ever, with more than 2,300 applications pouring in from around the globe. This year’s shortlist represented 15 countries, turning the competition into a truly international style showdown.

On Wednesday at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris, the elite jury, including LVMH star designers Jonathan Anderson, Phoebe Philo, Pharrell Williams, Nigo, Stella McCartney and Silvia Venturini Fendi, alongside business executives Sidney Toledano, Jean-Paul Claverie and Delphine Arnault, brought together creativity and strategy to make their choice.

So, who are the lucky winners?

Soshi Otsuki, from Japan, was crowned with the main LVMH Prize, receiving €400,000 and a one-year tailored mentorship from LVMH executives. His design philosophy stems from a fascination with Japanese classical performing arts (as a teenager he practiced judo, which shaped both his outlook on life and his understanding of the body). Otsuki specializes in precise tailoring and menswear: crisp, contemporary silhouettes infused with traditional Japanese elements like kimono sleeves, judo belts, and prayer beads. Think broad shoulders, sculpted jackets, generous trousers, hidden tie pockets and subtle draping. The jury was seduced by his technical mastery (he was one of the most experienced contenders) as well as by the clarity of his message: wearable, practical suits that grant their wearer a sense of presence and control.

Meanwhile, London-based designer Steve O Smith took home the Karl Lagerfeld Prize (€200,000 and a personalized one-year mentorship). His work explores the intersection of drawing and garment construction. During his Central Saint Martins years, he developed a distinctive process using fabric appliqué and precise pattern cutting to translate sketches into living, wearable lines. His clothes capture movement as if hand-drawn strokes had been set in motion. True to his sustainable ethos, Smith produces only made-to-measure pieces for a select clientele.

Finally, Torishéju Dumi, also London-based, won this year’s Savoir-Faire Prize (€200,000 and a mentorship program), presented to her by French actress Camille Cottin. A Central Saint Martins graduate, she fuses her mother’s passion for 19th-century design and art with her Nigerian-Brazilian Catholic upbringing, weaving folklore and heritage into her creations. Her work offers a dialogue between womenswear and menswear, crafted from deadstock fabrics and transformed into forward-looking, narrative-driven pieces. Fun fact: Torishéju once worked at Céline under Phoebe Philo, who was on this year’s jury. And her victory, following the recent appointment of Rachel Scott as creative director of Proenza Schouler, marks a significant moment for female designers in a male-dominated industry.

Courtesy: LVMH

Text: Lidia Ageeva