Setchu Wins the 2023 LVMH Prize For Young Designers
Among the nine finalists, the jury awarded Satoshi Kuwata of Setchu the prestigious LVMH Prize.
After a highly anticipated deliberation, Satoshi Kuwata was awarded the 2023 LVMH Prize For Young Designers, presented by Xin Liu and L'OFFICIEL US cover star Gal Gadot. The Japanese designer founded the Milan-based clothing line, a genderless label that represents "the blending of Japanese and Western concepts - the compromise between the two cultures," per the brand's mission statement. Among the tight competition of nine talented designers, Setchu stood out to the jury leaders which included Jonathan Anderson, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Nicolas Ghesquière, Marc Jacobs, Kim Jones, Nigo, Stella McCartney, and Silvia Venturini Fendi, as well as Delphine Arnault, Jean-Paul Claverie, and Sidney Toledano.
Kuwata stands out expertly combining his Western influences with his Japanese heritage, tailoring garments reminiscent of origami art and blending the lines between masculinity and femininity. As the winner of the prize, Kuwata will receive a €300,000 endowment along with a personalized mentorship experience with LVMH.
With such a talented group of designers, Kuwata wasn't the only one who walked away with an award. Julia Pelipas, founder of Bettter, and Luca Magliano, founder of Magliano, won the esteemed Karl Lagerfeld Prize. Both winners will receive a €150,000 allocation and a one-year mentorship by the LVMH teams.
Each finalist brought forward something unique, making it a tough deliberation to decide the winners. When speaking about the creativity of the talented designers, Arnault said, "Cultural diversity, celebration of traditional crafts, and creative audacity define this selection. Naturally, the finalists are fully engaged in dealing with environmental issues and play with the boundaries between menswear and womenswear. Their expertise, their creativity, their uniqueness, and their commitment have truly impressed me," per a statement.
The other 2023 LVMH Prize finalists included Aaron Esh by Aaron Esh, Burc Akyol by Burc Akyol, Diotima by Rachel Scott, Luar by Raul Lopez, Paolina Russo by Paolina Russo, and QUIRA by Veronica Leoni.
