The Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy Prize has released the shortlist for its 2019 competition. In its sixth edition, the LVMH prize offers one stellar designer each year, a €300,000 prize and a year’s worth of mentoring.
Twenty designers representing 15 countries were selected from a staggering 1,700 applicants! Among which two African designers; Thebe Magugu from South Africa and Kenneth Izedonmwen from Nigeria have also been selected. This is important because Africa often goes underrepresented at international competitions such as this.
Kenneth Ize is one of the designers at the forefront of Africa’s fashion boom, his use of the Aso-oke is exceptional and has attracted the attention of top international publications as well as a spot in Naomi Campbell‘s heart.
SA based designer Thebe Magugu has put his brand on the map with colourful collections that draw inspiration from a rich cultural background.
He shared the news on his Instagram page with the caption:
Growing up and watching the designers under @lvmh – from the 90’s to present day – is one of the things that have kept my passion for what I do because those designers all supported and showed this idea that fashion – even through the commerce – is a wildly transportive, intelligent and often surreal industry. So to make the shortlist of the prestigious @lvmhprizeis a true honour.
Thank you to the Prize and supporters of what I do.
Congratulations to the brilliant designers selected – see you in Paris on Thursday.
Best,
Thebe
BNS wishes them all the best!