The 8th edition of the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers had a bit of a surprise today as the Jury decided to award three designers with the Karl Lagerfeld Prize: Colm Dillane, 29, the American founder of the KidSuper label based in Brooklyn (womenswear and menswear), Lukhanyo Mdingi, 29, a South African designer based in Cape Town (womenswear and menswear), and Rui Zhou, 26, the Shanghai-based Chinese designer behind the brand Rui (genderless fashion). They each receive 150,000 euros and will enjoy a one-year mentorship.

KidSuper

Delphine Arnault stated: “Given the incredible talent of the finalists, the Jury decided to award the Karl Lagerfeld Prize to three designers: Colm Dillane for KidSuper, Lukhanyo Mdingi and Rui Zhou for Rui. All three have sharp and unique visions of today’s fashion. The 8th edition is evidence of the international scope and appeal of the LVMH Prize: hailing from over one hundred countries, nearly 2,000 candidates applied this year. I am especially grateful to the nine finalists for their valuable presence despite the exceptional circumstances. I applaud their outstanding talent and creativity. I am delighted that the LVMH Prize has placed the spotlight on their work and will help them develop their brand.”

Lukhanyo Mdingi

The designers were awarded at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris presented by the French actress Isabelle Huppert (and my personal obsession), in the presence of six artistic directors from the LVMH Group, Virgil Abloh, Jonathan Anderson, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Marc Jacobs, Kim Jones and Stella McCartney, alongside Delphine Arnault, Jean-Paul Claverie and Sidney Toledano. Taking home the coveted LVMH Prize was Albanian designer Nensi Dojaka. 

Rui Zhou