This year's LVMH Prize shortlist prioritises sustainability

The shortlist for this year’s edition of one of the fashion world’s most prestigious prizes for emerging talent has been announced.

Since 2013, the LVMH Prize has vowed to honour and support young designers from all across the globe. Previous winners include Hood By Air founder Shayne Oliver, Jacquemus’ Simon Porte Jacquemus, and Grace Wales Bonner.

With the announcement set to be made in mid-June at Paris’ uber-swanky Fondation Louis Vuitton, 63 fashion industry insiders have whittled down the long list of 25 up-and-coming designers to just eight lucky souls who’ll now compete to scoop up the award.

This year’s list features, as you’d expect, a global array of top-tier talent. Thebe Magugu (South Africa), Stefan Cooke and Jake Burt (UK), Spencer Phipps (USA), Kenneth Izedonmwen (Nigeria), Hed Mayner (Israel), Emily Adams Bode (USA), Bethany Williams (UK), and Kunihiko Morinaga (Japan) are the lucky select few to get the formal nod.

As with most things in 2019, we’re told that there’s been a keen focus on designers who incorporate sustainable methods of working into their practice. Vogue quotes the prize’s founder Delphine Arnault as saying, “Most of the finalists have integrated upcycling in their sourcing strategy. First and foremost, [of course,] we appraise the creativity of the candidates. Naturally, if it is combined with an ethical and environmental awareness at the service of creation, then so much the better.”

For the first time ever, Karl Lagerfeld — for reasons that we hope are obvious — won’t be on the panel.