20 Semifinalists Revealed from 17 Countries

PARIS — The LVMH Prize for Young Designers has revealed the 20 semifinalists of its 13th edition, as it casts an ever-wider net in the search for the next promising fashion talents. 

“This year’s 20 semifinalists come from major fashion capitals, as well as, for the first time, Georgia, Kenya and Thailand,” said Delphine Arnault, the force behind the prize and a key talent scout at LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

“Their collections span contemporary elegance, bold designs and even one-of-a-kind pieces. Craftsmanship and research into materials lie at the heart of their creations,” she added.

The semifinalists, hailing from 17 countries, are to gather at a showroom on March 4 and 5 during Paris Fashion Week to present their collections to the press and to the prize’s committee of experts, who will vote to select eight finalists.

The general public will be invited to discover the designers and vote for their favorite collection online from March 4 to 8.

The showroom will be held for the first time at department store La Samaritaine, as LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton’s headquarters are undergoing renovations. 

Following a 2025 edition strong on menswear, the shortlist includes only three dedicated menswear designers, with another four creating clothes for both women and men. There are seven womenswear designers, and six genderless labels.

Among those shortlisted is Indian designer Kartik Kumra’s Kartik Research label, which previously reached the semifinals in 2023.

The overall winner will receive a grand prize of 400,000 euros and mentorship by LVMH teams in such areas as sustainable development, communication, copyright and corporate legal aspects, marketing, manufacturing and the financial management of a brand.

The winner of the runner-up Karl Lagerfeld Prize walks away with a 200,000-euro endowment and also enjoys a one-year mentorship. Finally, the Savoir-Faire Prize comes with a grant of 200,000 euros and a one-year mentorship.

This year’s edition drew more than 2,400 applicants from all over the world. The victors are to be named at a ceremony later this year.

The LVMH Prize is open to fashion designers aged between 18 and 40 who have created at least two womenswear, menswear or genderless ready-to-wear collections.

The annual contest has helped propel the careers of such talents as Marine Serre, Duran Lantink, Thebe Magugu, Simon Porte Jacquemus and Grace Wales Bonner. 

Last year’s winner was Soshiotsuki by Japanese designer Soshi Otsuki, who has gained cult status for his oversize suits inspired by ‘80s-era Giorgio Armani.

The 2026 LVMH Prize will also distinguish three fashion school graduates. Each will receive 10,000 euros and join the design studio of a house within LVMH, whose fashion brands include Louis Vuitton, Dior, Celine, Givenchy, Fendi and Loewe. Online applications for the student prizes remain open until April 5.

Below is a complete list of the designer semifinalists for the LVMH Prize:

Womenswear and menswear

Iamisigo by Bubu Ogisi, Nigeria
Kartik Research by Kartik Kumra, India
Lii by Zane Li, China
Ponte by Harry Pontefract, U.K.

Womenswear

Colleen Allen, U.S.
De Pino by Gabriel Figueiredo, France
Golshaah by Golnar Ahmadian, Iran
Julie Kegels, Belgium
Maz Manuela Álvarez by Manuela Álvarez, Colombia
Petra Fagerström, Sweden
Yoshita 1967 by Anil Padia, Kenya

Menswear

Derrick by Luke Derrick, U.K.
Shinyakozuka by Shinya Kozuka, Japan
Ssstein by Kiichiro Asakawa, Japan

Genderless

Act N°1 by Luca Lin, Italy
Institution by Galib Gassanoff, Georgia
Kinyan Lam, China
Nong Rak by Cherry W. Rain-Phuangfueang, U.S., and Teerapat Phuangfueang, Thailand
The Vxlley by Daniel del Valle Fernandez, Spain
Tíscar Espadas by Tíscar Espadas, Spain, and Kevin Kohler, Switzerland