Japanese designer Soshi Otsuki, the creative force behind Soshiotsuki, scooped up the LVMH Prize 2025, one of the industry’s most powerful springboards for fresh talent. Otsuki, who launched his label in 2015, has built a cult following for his razor-sharp tailoring and poetic twists on Japanese tradition. Think samurai spirit meets modern minimalism. This year, that vision earned him not just the prize, but also a serious career boost: up to €400,000 in funding and a year-long mentorship with LVMH insiders.

“This is about reimagining heritage in a way that feels alive today,” Otsuki said before the ceremony. And clearly, the jury agreed, made up of Phoebe Philo, Pharrell Williams, Stella McCartney, Nicolas Ghesquière, Sarah Burton, Jonathan Anderson, Silvia Fendi, and Dior CEO Delphine Arnault. Additionally, making history this year: Deepika Padukone, the first Indian ambassador to sit on the LVMH jury.

The LVMH Prize always spotlights more than one to watch, with every nominee defining their own vision that resonates in different ways. This year, the Karl Lagerfeld Prize, presented by Japanese actress and singer Anna Sawai was snapped up by Steve O Smith, whose dreamy pieces start as hand-drawn sketches before floating into reality while the Savoir-Faire Prize went to Torishéju Dumi, celebrated for her fierce silhouettes and technical edge.

Each finalist presented through a short film before showing their collection live, turning the event into more of a storytelling festival than a fashion competition. Finalists ranged from Paris- based Alain Paul to Netherlands’ Zomer. For Otsuki, this isn’t just a trophy moment, it’s the start of a new chapter. The mentorship, the funding, and the spotlight mean we’re about to see his designs on a much bigger stage. For fashion at large, the prize proves once again that individuality, craft, and authenticity aren’t trends but building futures houses in the fashionscape.