After receiving 1,900 applicants worldwide, a committee of international fashion experts behind one of fashion’s most prestigious prizes for emerging designers, the LVMH Prize, has selected its 20 semifinalists. Due to COVID-19, the semifinal will be entirely digital for the first time ever this year, and the designers’ collections will be open to the public in a virtual showroom from April 6 to 11. The 2021 LVMH Prize also marks the first time that visitors from around the world can vote for their favorites.
“I am very grateful to all the candidates from more than 110 countries for taking part in this year’s competition, and I would like to congratulate the semi-finalists,” said Delphine Arnault, executive vice-president of Louis Vuitton and the founder of the prize. “All the semifinalists have incorporated a responsible stance in their creative vision: use of innovative or traditional materials, upcycling, recycled fibres, artisanal and local approaches.”
Of the semifinalists, seven design womenswear, five menswear, two do both womenswear and menswear, and six design genderless collections. For the first time, an Albanian and a Colombian designer have made it to this stage in the competition. There are also designers from China, France, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Nigeria, South Africa, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The dates for the finals have not yet been announced, but the grand prize is, as always, a 300,000-euro grant. In addition to the designers, this year’s panel also welcomes some fresh faces: Bella Hadid, Samira Nasr of Harper’s Bazaar, actress Léa Seydoux, and Margaret Zhang, the newly appointed editor-in-chief of Vogue China. Arnault added, “I am also delighted to welcome Naomi Osaka, a committed and outstanding tennis champion, the ambassador of this edition who will accompany us to the final.”
Below, see this year’s semifinalists, and get ready to cast your votes starting April 6.
AGR
Alicia Robinson is a British womenswear and menswear designer based in London.
Bianca Saunders
Bianca Saunders is a British menswear designer based in London.
Charles de Vilmorin
Charles de Vilmorin is a French designer based in Paris. Their collections are genderless.
Christopher John Rogers
Christopher John Rogers is an American womenswear designer based in New York.
Connor Ives
Conner Ives is an American womenswear designer based in London.
Frederico Cina
Federico Cina is an Italian designer based in Sarsina. Their collections are genderless.
KidSuper
Colm Dillane is an American menswear designer based in New York.
Kika Vargas
Kika Vargas is a Colombian womenswear designer based in Bogota.
Lagos Space Programme
Adeju Thompson is a Nigerian designer based in Lagos. Their collections are genderless.
Lukhanyo Mdingi
Lukhanyo Mdingi is a South African womenswear and menswear designer based in Cape Town.
Midorikawa
Taku Midorikawa is a Japanese designer based in Tokyo. Their collections are genderless.
Nensi Dojaka
Nensi Dojaka is an Albanian womenswear designer based in London.
Post Archive Faction(PAF)
Dongjoon Lim is a South Korean menswear designer based in Seoul.
Renaissance Renaissance
Cynthia Merhej is a Lebanese womenswear designer based in Beyrouth.
Rier
Andreas Steiner is an Italian designer based in Paris. Their collections are genderless.
Rui
Rui Zhou is a Chinese designer based in Shanghai. Their collections are genderless.
Saul Nash
Saul Nash is a British menswear designer based in London.
Shuting Qiu
Shuting Qiu is a Chinese womenswear designer based in Shanghai.
Taakk
Takuya Morikawa is a Japanese menswear designer based in Tokyo.
Wed
Amy Trinh and Evan Phillips are British womenswear designers based in London.