March 10, 2020 |
With Rupaul’s Drag Race in the depth of controversy thanks to one of its contestants being disqualified for sexual misconduct, we’re gladly focusing on the other most important competition in the world. The seventh edition of the LVMH Prize is unravelling this coming June, and as announced today, the shortlist of 20 emerging names has narrowed down to only eight. Chosen for the power of their individual voices changing the world, Ahluwalia, Casablanca, Chopova Lowena, Nicholas Daley, Peter Do, Sindiso Khumalo, Supriya Lele and Tomo Koizumi will be competing in the live finals as they try to persuade the star-studded jury they are the ones that deserve the €300k and a year-long mentorship. The jury includes a wide range of industry’s greatest such as Virgil Abloh, Jonathan Anderson, Clare Waight Keller, Delphine Arnault and Sidney Toledano. Oh, and Miss Robyn Rihanna Fenty too! “This year, once more, the semi-finalists impressed us with their creativity and their commitment to creating clothes that are respectful of the environment. I would like to congratulate all of them!” said Arnault via a release. Following from last year’s support by the LVMH-backed 24S, this year’s selection will have their work sold via both 24S and Matches in order to help them gain international exposure and build momentum ahead of the finals.
What really stands out from the 2020 finalists is that half of them are London-based, proving how the British capital continues to lead the way in nurturing the greatness of emerging ideas. Daley, Lele, Priya Ahluwalia and Emma Chopova & Laura Lowena will be (figuratively) flying the Union Jack at the Louis Vuitton Foundation on June 5th in the hopes of bringing that gold statue back on the Eurostar. It’s important to add that Brits have already taken the Prize three times – Thomas Tait in 2014, Marques’Almeida in 2015 and Grace Wales Bonner in 2016. Who will be next to grab the trophy and take over from last year’s winner Thebe Magugu? And who will take home the second ever Karl Lagerfeld accolade? We have our personal own favourites, but will keep those for ourselves until further notice. So, let the season of LVMH Prize Fantasy League begin!
The 2020 LVMH Prize finals will be taking place in Paris on June 5th.
