The competition for this year’s LVMH prize was so fierce the panel chose to extend the number of finalists to 9 rather than 8, since several of the semi-finalists obtained the same number of votes.

Creative teams feature prominently in the selection: indeed 3 of the finalists are design duos. Also of mention is the real diversity of talent, with 2 brands designing womenswear, 2 designing menswear, 2 both womenswear and menswear and 3 create gender neutral fashion.

Some of the designers are appropriating a new femininity, while others are focused on blending menswear and womenswear. The creative diversity really galvanized the showroom.

Delphine Arnault, executive vice president of LVMH and founder of the Prize.

 

The 9 designers were selected by 48 international fashion industry experts from the 20 semi-finalists who presented their collections in Paris, on March 1 and 2, 2018. Experts on this year’s panel included investor Carmen Busquets, fashion muse Lady Amanda Harlech, and Dior face Bella Hadid, as well as fashion educators Fabio Piras, Burak Cakmak, and Hans de Foer (of Central Saint Martins, Parsons School of Design, and IFM, respectively).

The 9 designers will be invited to meet the members of the Jury and show them their work at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, on June 6, 2018. The Jury will select the winner at the end day.

The 9 finalists are (in alphabetical order):

A-COLD-WALL by Samuel Ross

Samuel Ross is a British menswear designer based in London, showing in London.

BOTTER by Rushemy Botter & Lisi Herrebrugh

Rushemy Botter & Lisi Herrebrugh are Dutch menswear designers based in Antwerp, showing in Paris.

CHARLES JEFFREY LOVERBOY by Charles Jeffrey

Charles Jeffrey is a British women’s wear and menswear designer based in London, showing in London.

DOUBLET by Masayuki Ino

Masayuki Ino is a Japanese gender-neutral designer based in Tokyo, showing in Tokyo.

ECKHAUS LATTA by Zoe Latta & Mike Eckhaus

Zoe Latta & Mike Eckhaus are American women’s wear and menswear designers based in New York and Los Angeles, showing in New York.

KWAIDAN EDITIONS by Léa Dickely & Hung La

Léa Dickely & Hung La are French and American-Vietnamese women’s wear designers based in London, showing in Paris.

LUDOVIC DE SAINT SERNIN by Ludovic de Saint Sernin

Ludovic de Saint Sernin is a French gender-neutral designer based in Paris, showing in Paris.

MATTHEW ADAMS DOLAN by Matthew Adams Dolan

Matthew Adams Dolan is an American gender-neutral designer based in New York, showing in New York.

ROKH by Rok Hwang

Rok Hwang is a South Korean women’s wear designer based in London, showing in Paris.

The LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Graduates is still open to applications until May 15, 2018. It gives three young fashion graduates the opportunity to join the design team of three of the LVMH Houses for one year.