How the LVMH, Karl Lagerfeld and Savoir-Faire Prize Winners Plan on Leveling Up

This year, LVMH celebrates 25 years of the foundation and consistently uplifting new, fresh talent. Supporting the fashion realm through decades of philanthropic initiatives — the Andam Fashion Awards, the Hyères International Fashion and Photography Festival, and more, the group continues to push forth innovation and unbounded creativity through the 2024 LVMH Prize for Young Designers.

This year’s semi-final brought together 20 young designers (selected among over 2,500 candidates), who displayed their collections to the Prize experts and the public. Prize experts included Eva Chen, Edward Enninful, Ibrahim Kamara, and more. Eight brands were then selected to participate in the final, including Aubero, Duran Lantink, Hodakova, Marie Adam-Leenaerdt, Niccolò Pasqualleti, Paolo Carzana, Pauline Dujancourt and Standing Ground.

On September 10 at the Foundation Louis Vuitton, the winners of the LVMH Prize, the Karl Lagerfeld Prize, and for the first time, the Savoir-Faire Prize, which distinguishes excellence in craftsmanship and sustainability, were selected. Hypebeast spoke with the prize winners after they were announced, discussing what these achievements mean for the burgeoning brands.

The House of Hodakova by Ellen Hodakova Larsson, the winner of the LVMH Prize, is a Swedish brand that creates luxury pieces with a utilitarian twist. Larsson will receive a 400,000€ endowment and a one-year mentorship. For the designer, this distinction means she can create on a larger scale with more open doors. Through some of the key pieces she displayed to the Prize experts, belts and suit wear, she hopes to bring a new perspective to the wider industry. Larsson has faith that her business model of upcycling and reworking old materials could circulate far beyond her own brand.

“For me, it's important to just keep this going. I aim to work on a sustainable fashion house that is sustainable on every single level,” she said, “Everyone involved is so passionate about believing in this, and I think belief is the main word that I'm aiming for. It’s something that you have in your core and your heart. When you put your passion into it, everything is worth it. And I just felt like it was a recognition of the work we're putting into this.”

Duran Lantink by Durank Lantink took home the Karl Lagerfeld Prize, awarded ​a 200,000€ endowment and a year’s mentorship, and echoed some of Larsson’s sentiments about the power of repurposing. “There's so much deadstock lying around. I really hope that students and the new generation take that as a norm,” he shared. Duran Lantink is a Dutch designer who brings a conscious approach to inventive knitwear and outerwear pieces, and the designer expressed that this achievement will really help him to level up in his process.

“This prize money is helping me to the next step. I'm an independent brand, so I don't have any financial backing and this helps me move forward. I think the mentorship is really great because LVMH is very connected, so I look forward to connecting to people that could really help me grow.”

Rounding out the list of winners, Standing Ground — a Londed-based label by Ireland-hailing Michael Stewart — took home the first-ever Savoir-Faire prize, which awarded him 200,000€ and a one-year mentorship. The award recognizes merit in technical and material innovation as well as sustainable development. The brand, which specializes in eveningwear, focuses on bringing forth a new way of designing by sourcing deadstock materials for elegant gowns and evening coats.

“It feels amazing. It's really lovely and such an honor to be awarded the first Savoir-Faire prize. It's an incredible jury and they understand what craft is and what Savoir-Faire is, so it's an amazing honor,” he expressed. “This means that I can continue to develop the work, but now take it to another level. I can achieve things that I previously haven't been able to afford to do. I really see myself investing that prize money into the work and fulfilling some ideas that I've had for a long time.”

As for what’s next for the three winners, they’re all ready to hit the ground running. Some have upcoming shows to prep, but first, celebrations are in order.

Click here to view full gallery at Hypebeast

How the LVMH, Karl Lagerfeld and Savoir-Faire Prize Winners Plan on Leveling Up

How the LVMH, Karl Lagerfeld and Savoir-Faire Prize Winners Plan on Leveling Up

How the LVMH, Karl Lagerfeld and Savoir-Faire Prize Winners Plan on Leveling Up

How the LVMH, Karl Lagerfeld and Savoir-Faire Prize Winners Plan on Leveling Up

How the LVMH, Karl Lagerfeld and Savoir-Faire Prize Winners Plan on Leveling Up