Now in its seventh year, the LVMH Prize has announced the semi-finalists for its latest edition, with three designers from the Indian diaspora being shortlisted for the first time ever.
Started in 2013 by the French luxury conglomerate, the LVMH Prize For Young Fashion Designers is an annual platform that helps launch upcoming talent on a global scale. Joining the league of Jacquemus, Vejas and Marine Serre, among others—previous winners of the title—this year’s winner will be finalised from a shortlist of 20 semi-finalists announced earlier this month. The competition invites designers under 40 from all over the world, who have produced at least two womenswear, menswear or unisex collections.
Among cult-favourite names such as, Peter Do, American label Area and Commission and Piero D’Angelo, three designers of Indian heritage have made it to the 2020 list for the first time. Here’s everything you need to know about the young labels, and what the prize will bring for them.
Priya Ahluwalia
A recent graduate of the University of Westminster, Ahluwalia has already made her presence felt strongly in the industry since completing her MA in Menswear. She showcased her spring/summer 2019 graduation collection—made from deadstock and second hand garments—at London Fashion Week in 2018, went on to win the 2019 H&M Design Award, and also received the NewGen award from the British Fashion Council. For autumn/winter 2020, the Indian-Nigerian menswear designer uses archival fabrics from Adidas for the ready-to-wear pieces. “It is such an honour to be shortlisted for such a prestigious competition. LVMH represents the epitome of luxury, design and heritage, and it is amazing to be recognised by such an institution. When I look at past participants to the competition, their careers have flourished afterwards, whether they won or not. I hope I can follow in their footsteps,” she tells us.
Kaushik Velendra
The 29-year-old menswear designer debuted at London Fashion Week in 2019, among the CSM Masters line-up. For 2020, the Chennai-born designer continues his vision of breaking the rigid moulds of men’s tailoring with his exaggerated silhouettes, which explore anatomy. Spotted on Ranveer Singh and at the red carpets for the 2020 Grammys and BAFTAs, Velendra’s star-studded journey has already begun. “It has been an absolute honour and privilege to have been shortlisted for the LVMH prize. Being nominated for the prize has been the best thing to happen to my brand, considering it has been just over a month since we launched. I’m ecstatic to meet the renowned leading mentors in the fashion industry, and be alongside some of the future faces of fashion,” says Kaushik Velendra.
Supriya Lele
After graduating from Royal College of Art in 2016, the British-Indian designer launched her eponymous womenswear label at LFW the following year, and showcased under the Fashion East scheme for three seasons. Her standalone debut was with spring/summer 2020, where Lele reworked saris into ultra-modern separates, and even incorporated her own vintage staples. “The past year has been a very formative time for my brand, and has offered me the chance to work with some leading industry creatives who have allowed me to be able to communicate more meaningfully and discuss my approach to heritage and femininity. The LVMH prize will enable me to continue this development by further honing my design process, gaining knowledge and exchanging ideas with some of the most respected people in the fashion industry,” she tells us.
The semi-final for the Prize will take place on February, 26-27, 2020—during the Paris Fashion Week—where each designer will meet a jury of industry experts. Following a further line-up of eight finalists, the winner will be announced on June 5, 2020. Along with a year-long mentorship from the LVMH team, the prizewinner will take home 3,00,000 Euros [approx Rs 2,33,00,00] to kickstart their brand.