After six months of competition, the LVMH Fashion Prize for Young Designers finally culminated in Paris today with the announcement of its winner at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. Thebe Magugu, a South African women's ready-to-wear designer based in Johannesburg, took home the top prize today which includes 300,000 euros and a mentorship from the LVMH group. This is the first time a designer from Africa was selected as the winner.
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A group of eight finalists met with the jury today, which include Louis Vuitton's Nicolas Ghesquiere, Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller, and Dior's Maria Grazia Chiuri. Additionally, actress Alicia Vikander (and Louis Vuitton ambassador) also stopped by to meet with the designers and peruse through their collections before presenting the award to Magugu.
Israeli menswear designer Hed Mayner, who presents his collections in Paris, received the Karl Lagerfeld Prize (which was renamed from Special Prize last week), granting 150,000 euros and a year-long mentorship with an LVMH executive. Delphine Arnault, daughter of LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault and founder of the LVMH Prize, presented Mayner with his award.
The brands and designers shortlisted for the award were: Kunihiko Morinaga (Anrealage), Bethany Williams, Stefan Cooke and Jake Burt (Stefan Cooke) and Thebe Magugu, Emily Adams Bode (Bode), Hed Mayner, Spencer Phipps (Phipps) and Kenneth Izedonmwen (Kenneth Ize).
Last year, the top prize went to Japanese streetwear brand Doublet, with the Special Prize given to Rokh. Previous winners of the LVMH Prize include Thomas Tait, Grace Wales Bonner, and Marine Serre. Past recipients of the Special Prize include Jacquemus and Vejas.
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