With effect from 2019’s pending edition, LVMH’s Special Prize will go by the moniker Karl Lagerfeld.
The naming of the prize after the late designer is in accordance with LVMH’s desire to pay homage to irreplaceable works done by Karl and also honor him for his contribution as a during the selection process of participants for the prize package. “Karl Lagerfeld, creative director of the house of Fendi since 1965, was involved in the prize since its launch. He was fully committed to it since day one, transporting us with his enthusiasm and his energy, sharing with everyone, whether other jury members or candidates, his culture and his passion for fashion. We shall always cherish those precious moments,” said Delphine Arnault, the mastermind behind the Special Prize.
The first Karl Lagerfeld prize will be handed over during the sixth edition of the contest, slated for September 4 at the Foundation Louis Vuitton. Packages for the winner include; a 150,000 euros cash prize, a one-year mentorship program under the LVMH team, which offers knowledge on topics such as, sourcing, production, distribution, communication and marketing.
In 1954, Karl was awarded the International Wool Secretariat, which is given to a fresh member in the fashion industry and upon receiving that title, Karl became an A-list advocate in paying attention to the works of fashion newcomers.
Bethany Williams, Andrealage, Bode, Hed Mayner, Kenneth Ize, Phipps, Stefan Cooke and Thebe Magugu, are the shortlisted candidates for the 2019 Karl Lagerfeld prize competition. With Karl’s exit from the judge seat, the jury is left with LVMH fashion stars like, Maria Grazia of Gucci, Chiuri, Marc Jacobs, Nicolas Ghesquiere of Louis Vuitton, Jonathan Anderson of Loewe, Kris Van Assche of Berluti and Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy, alongside competition executives Delphine, Jean-Paul Claverie and Sidney Toledano.
