September 3, 2025 |
The fashion world gathered today at the Louis Vuitton Fondation in Paris to celebrate one of the industry’s most important milestones: the announcement of the 2025 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers.
In a ceremony attended by some of the most influential names in fashion – including jury members Jonathan Anderson, Sarah Burton, Pharrell Williams, Phoebe Philo and Marc Jacobs – this year’s winners were revealed to an audience of global editors, designers and tastemakers. Hosts guided the proceedings with their signature charisma.
Soshi Otsuki of Soshiotsuki was named as the winner of the 2025 LVMH Prize. Visibly moved while accepting the award, Otsuki joins the ranks of past recipients such as Ellen Hodakova Larsson, Satoshi Kuwata, Grace Wales Bonner and Steven Stokey Daley. The label, known for slouchy Japanese tailoring, stood out among this year’s finalists which also included brands Alainpaul, August Barron, Francesco Murano, Steve O Smith, Tolu Coker, Torishéju and Zomer.
As part of the prize, the designer receives €400,000 in funding and a year-long mentorship from LVMH experts. “Thank you LVMH, thank you everyone,” said Otsuki in his acceptance speech.
This year’s Karl Lagerfeld Special Jury Prize was awarded to Steve O Smith. This prize, created in honor of the late Karl Lagerfeld, recognises a runner-up designer whose work demonstrates exceptional promise. With €200,000 in funding and dedicated mentorship, he will be able to push their vision forward.
Now in its second edition, the Savoir-Faire Prize honours outstanding craftsmanship, technical innovation, and a commitment to sustainability. The award went to Torishéju Dumi of Torishéju, whose work demonstrates a unique mastery of form and technique. Like the Special Jury Prize, the honour comes with €200,000 and a year of support from LVMH mentors.
How will they use the prize money? “I’m moving into a new studio next week, and so we’re very excited to invest in machinery and pattern tables. It sounds boring, but pattern tables, stock buttons, continuous steam irons, these things that are very necessary to create the work that we do will help to expand our production capabilities,” says Smith. Dumi adds, “I want to employ a part-time pattern cutter to help me expand the vision that I’m already working on. I think that’s going to take the brand to so many different heights.” Their advice for the next cohort of LVMH Prize applicants? “Have a point of view,” says Smith.
As the winners celebrated, the atmosphere reflected both the weight of tradition and the thrill of the future. The LVMH Prize has become a launchpad for designers reshaping the industry – not only through aesthetics, but also through their approaches to sustainability, inclusivity and craft.
With this year’s winners now stepping into the spotlight, all eyes are on how they will use this recognition to shape the next era of fashion.
Photography courtesy of LVMH Prize.
