Meet the 20 Semi-Finalists from This Year’s LVMH Prize Shortlist

Meet the 20 semi-finalists from this year’s LVMH Prize shortlist. Shortlisted labels include Casablanca, Nicholas Daley, Peter Do and Ahluwalia Studio.

Applications for 2020’s LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers closed earlier this month, and the panel of experts have announced the award’s 20 semi-finalists, selected from a pool of countless designers, companies and brands. Centralized around womenswear labels, the nominees include a host of menswear and genderless brands as well, incorporating creatives from across the globe.

Hailing from countries like Bulgaria, China, Denmark, India, Iran, Korea, the Netherlands, South Africa, the United States, Vietnam and Argentina, the chosen applicants offer a diverse skillset. There’s Peter Do‘s honed minimalism, Nicholas Daley‘s artisinal workwear, Tomo Koizumi’s handcrafted dresses and Casablanca‘s refined athleticism, to name only a few, with the nominees “illustrating .. the breaking down of gender barriers and the emergence of a more inclusive mode of dressing,” noted Delphine Arnault in a statement, executive vice president of Louis Vuitton.

Photo: Courtesy of LVMH

What makes a designer stand out in these complicated times? The list of semifinalists, revealed exclusively below, aren’t just making beautiful clothes; they’re tackling fashion’s carbon footprint, designing for their communities, and celebrating their diverse cultures. “All [of the semifinalists] share an innovative vision, resolutely focused on the future, in terms of their research into new materials, use of bio-textiles or recycled fibers, concern for new artisanal techniques, and desire for local, reasoned production,” Arnault tells Vogue. “These initiatives speak to a growing awareness across the fashion and luxury sector, and reflect the values of environmentally conscious fashion.”