Carefully narrowed down from 20 semifinalists, this list represents some of the boldest and most original visions fashion has seen in the last few years. The finalist designers are now preparing for the final round of competition, scheduled for September 3 at Paris’s Fondation Louis Vuitton.

Delphine Arnault, CEO of Christian Dior and founder of the prize, remarked on the exceptional diversity and skill evident in this year’s entries, noting the finalists’ mastery of “craftsmanship, tailoring, and refined vision,” reaffirming the prize’s commitment to fostering innovation and technical excellence in design.

V have compiled a closer look at the designers competing for the prestigious prize this year.

TOLU COKER

The British brand’s narrative-driven collections mix diasporic storytelling and activist messages into sophisticated womenswear. The label skillfully incorporates personal and cultural histories into clothing that prompts dialogue about identity, heritage, and social consciousness.

Courtesy of LVMH (on the left, designer Tolu Coker)

TORISHÉJU

Bridging African and European cultural aesthetics, the British label delivers a compelling interplay of shapes characterized by vibrant textures and draping that challenges the perception of cultural hybridity through fashion.

Courtesy of LVMH (on the left, designer Torishéju Dumi)

ZOMER

The Danish brand experiments with textiles, prints, and silhouettes, creating garments that question traditional dressing standards. Its collections reflect a bold, evolving voice in global fashion.

Courtesy of LVMH (on the left, designer Danial Aitouganov)

ALL-IN

What started as a magazine is now a Norwegian/American fashion label whose defining style picks apart tropes of femininity—beauty queens, teen idols, pop stars—and reimagines them in genderless silhouettes.

Courtesy of LVMH (on the left, designers Benjamin Barron & Bror August Vestbø)

ALAINPAUL

The French label reworks menswear through refined tailoring that prioritizes movement over rigidity. The brand incorporates subtle asymmetries and fluid lines to offer a contemporary perspective on masculine codes.

Courtesy of LVMH (on the left, designer Alain Paul)

FRANCESCO MURANO

The Italian label produces sculptural womenswear with a baroque sensibility. Precision and control define each silhouette, balancing theatrical flair with functionality.

Courtesy of LVMH (on the left, designer Francesco Murano)

SOSHIOTSUKI

The Japanese label’s menswear is shaped by traditions of ceremony and performance, with subtle shifts in proportion and form that both honor and challenge cultural codes.

Courtesy of LVMH (on the left, designer Soshi Otsuki)

STEVE O SMITH

The British label explores themes of romance and distortion, offering garments that are emotionally charged, expressive, and grounded in a distinctive visual language.

Courtesy of LVMH (on the left, designer Steve O Smith)

The winner of the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers receives a €400,000 grant along with a tailored one-year mentorship from LVMH teams. Additionally, two other distinctions—the Karl Lagerfeld Prize and the Savoir-Faire Prize—are each awarded with a €200,000 allocation and a year-long mentorship by LVMH experts.

Furthermore, each year, the Prize honors three young fashion school graduates. Each selected graduate, along with their respective school, receives €10,000 and is given the opportunity to join the design studio of an LVMH House for one year.

Courtesy of LVMH

The prize jury continues to include some of fashion’s most respected names, from Edward Enninful and Suzy Menkes to Pharrell Williams, Law Roach, Maria Grazia Chiuri, and Nicolas Ghesquière. Their support highlights the award’s influential role as a career-defining endorsement for emerging designers.

Courtesy of LVMH – ZOMER LVMH Silhouette

Courtesy of LVMH – TORISHÉJU LVMH Silhouette

Courtesy of LVMH – Tolu Coker LVMH Silhouette

Courtesy of LVMH – Steve O Smith LVMH Silhouette

Courtesy of LVMH – Soshiotsuki LVMH Silhouette

Courtesy of LVMH – Francesco Murano LVMH Silhouette

Courtesy of LVMH – ALL-IN LVMH Silhouette

Courtesy of LVMH – ALAINPAUL LVMH Silhouette

Ultimately, the LVMH Prize represents more than financial support or industry recognition; it’s a powerful endorsement of fashion’s next generation and a catalyst for the change they are encouraged to bring.