Q&a / Dior CEO and LVMH Prize founder Delphine Arnault on the coveted international award for young fashion designers, which has attracted the likes of Virgil Abloh and Demna

Mar 7 , 2025

Dior CEO and LVMH Prize founder Delphine Arnault photographed at the 2025 edition of the LVMH Prize in Paris. Photos: handout

The 2025 LVMH Prize semi-finalists were welcomed by Arnault at a presentation during Paris Fashion Week, which was also attended by the likes of Jaden Smith and Lily James

In little more than a decade, the LVMH Prize for young designers has become one of the most prestigious and coveted awards in the fashion industry.

Former winners and participants include success stories such as the founders of brands Jacquemus, Marine Serre, Setchu and Chopova Lowena. Hugely influential designers such as the late Virgil Abloh, who had his own label, Off-White and who steered men’s fashion at Louis Vuitton, as well as Balenciaga’s creative director, Demna, also entered the competition early in their careers.

The LVMH Prize, brainchild of Delphine Arnault, CEO of Dior – one of the labels that are part of LVMH, the world’s largest luxury-goods group – welcomed its 2025 semi-finalists at a presentation during Paris Fashion Week. There, designers as diverse as Hong Kong-born, Paris-based Alain Paul of Alainpaul; Josh Tafoya, a weaver from New Mexico; and London-based Torishéju Dumi of Torishéju vied for the attention of buyers, editors and industry insiders.

Delphine Arnault, CEO of Dior, with the LVMH Prize 2025 semi-finalists in Paris. Photo: Handout

The winner, who will be announced at a later date, will receive a €400,000 endowment and a one-year custom mentorship from a dedicated LVMH team, while the runner-up will secure a €200,000 endowment and a year’s mentorship.

Before the event, attended by Jaden Smith and Lily James, we sat down with Arnault for a chat.

How has the LVMH Prize evolved in the last decade?

What you see here is creativity at a given moment. It really reflects what’s happening right now, so … when we started 11 years ago, you would have seen more women’s ready-to-wear or men’s ready-to-wear; and then, later, sportswear and genderless fashion; and then the issue of sustainability was extremely important and is still crucial to brands today – many use deadstock, want know where their fabrics come from, about production.

All these questions have become even more relevant today and it really reflects the status of fashion at a given point.

The range of participants has also become more global.