Japan’s Soshi Otsuki wins LVMH Prize 2025

And the winner is from Japan: Soshi Otsuki, an exciting new talent in menswear, was awarded the LVMH Prize for 2025 on Wednesday at a packed ceremony at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris.

One of the richest individual awards in fashion — with first prize garnering €300,000 — the LVMH Prize celebrated its 12th year this season.

“Thank you to the jury, to Delphine Arnault, to LVMH and to everyone… I am very honored,” a shy Otsuki murmured into the microphone on the main stand.

In a pre-prize video, Otsuki explained: “I launched Soshiotsuki in 2015, blending Japanese tradition with modern craftsmanship. Interpreting the DNA of Japanese heritage from a unique perspective. Blending precision, with emotion, to craft modern silhouettes.”

The jury, composed principally of LVMH designers — such as Phoebe Philo, Pharrell Williams, Sarah Burton, Jonathan Anderson, Nicolas Ghesquière and Silvia Fendi — and including executives like Sidney Toledano and the originator of the award, Dior CEO Delphine Arnault, also chose two other award winners.

The jury presented the Karl Lagerfeld Prize to Steve O Smith, a UK-born talent noted for his brilliant ink-on-paper sketches that he transports into willowy, graphic and romantic dresses — winning Smith a check for €150,000 for the adjoining Karl Lagerfeld Prize.

Meanwhile, the third award — the Savoir-Faire Prize — went to another British creator, Torishéju Dumi, who presented women’s and men’s collections defined by dynamic, edgy grandeur. The Savoir-Faire Prize was created to recognize excellence in craftsmanship, technical innovation and the sustainable approach of the selected brands.

Previous LVMH Prize finalists have included Jacquemus, Demna, and Rachel Scott, the designer of New York brand Diotima, who was named creative director of Proenza Schouler yesterday.

The winner was selected from eight finalists chosen from a group of 20 semi-finalists who participated in the LVMH Young Fashion Creators Award, presenting their ideas on March 5 and 6 in Paris. A first jury of around 80 experts — including editors, stylists, models, and movie stars — whittled the initial 20 down to eight.

The other five finalists were French designer Alain Paul, who showed women’s, men’s and unisex collections in inventive sculptural forms; All-In, by the duo of Benjamin Barron from the U.S. and Bror August Vestbø from Norway, who presented women’s and unisex collections featuring a fabulous frou-frou gown accessorized with giant pearl necklaces;

Zomer by Danial Aitouganov, a Dutch talent whose women’s shows in Paris have been highly acclaimed for several seasons; from Italy came Francesco Murano, a highly skillful draper; and London-based talent Tolu Coker, with a blend of African iconography and prints coupled with bravura cutting and tailoring.