The new edition of the LVMH Prize had over 1,700 applicants from more than 100 countries, spread over all continents, a record since its launch 6 years ago. 8 designers were selected by 63 international fashion experts among the 20 semi-finalists who presented their collections in Paris on March 1^st and 2^nd. These 8 designers will take part in the final of the LVMH Prize to be held at the Foundation Louis Vuitton. They will present their collections to the members of the jury who will choose this year’s winner.

The 8 finalists include: ANREALAGE by Kunihiko Morinaga (Japanese designer, based in Tokyo), BETHANY WILLIAMS by Bethany Williams (British designer, based in London), BODE by Emily Adams Bode (American designer, based in New York).
Menswear, showing in New York, HED MAYNER by Hed Mayner (Israeli designer, based in Tel Aviv),  KENNETH IZE by Kenneth Izedonmwen (Nigerian designer, based in Lagos), PHIPPS by Spencer Phipps (American designer, based in Paris).
Gender-neutral fashion, showing in Paris, STEFAN COOKE by Stefan Cooke and Jake Burt (British designers, based in London), THEBE MAGUGU by Thebe Magugu (South African designer, based in Johannesburg).

The jury includes: Edward Enninful, Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue (London), Linda Fargo, Senior Vice-President of Bergdorf Goodman (New York), Chiara Ferragni, Digital entrepreneur and President and CEO of Tbs Crew (Milan) Angelo Flaccavento, Fashion journalist (Ragusa), Hans de Foer, Director of the Postgraduate Fashion Program at the Institut Français de la Mode (Paris), Jo-Ann Furniss, Journalist and Creative Director (London), Chantal Gaemperle, LVMH Group Executive Vice President for Human Resources and Synergies (Paris), Stephen Gan, Editor-in-chief of V magazine and V man and creative director of Elle USA (New York) and more.

Applications for the Prize for Young Fashion Graduates will remain open until May 15, 2019. It gives three young graduates the opportunity to join one of the Houses of the group for one year.