LVMH to launch Karl Lagerfeld Fashion Prize in recognition of fashion designer’s ‘unique creative genius’

LVMH has announced it is launching a fashion prize in honour of Karl Lagerfeld.

In February, the former Chanel and Fendi creative director passed away in Paris at the age of 85. Lagerfeld was one of the most successful and recognisable figures in the fashion industry, having spent almost 70 years working in the business.

WWD reports LVMH, a luxury goods conglomerate comprising of brands including Dior and Louis Vuitton, will present the LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers – which will henceforth be named the Karl Lagerfeld Prize – during the sixth edition of the Young Fashion Designers contest on 4 September at the Fondation Louis Vuitton.

“Karl Lagerfeld, creative director of the house of Fendi since 1965, was involved in the prize since its launch,” said Delphine Arnault, executive vice president of Louis Vuitton.

“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.”

Lagerfeld acted as a judge for the prize since its launch in 2014. Arnault stated that the newly-named award “naturally perpetuates the closeness we developed over the years and is a tribute to the man’s unique creative genius, to his ability to turn Paris into the fashion capital of the world”.

The recipient of the prize, who must be under the age of 40 and produced/sold at least two women’s or men’s ready-to-wear collections, is to receive €150,000 and a one-year mentorship programme provided by an LVMH team.

This year’s prize has already received more than 1,700 applicants from over 100 countries.

The awards’ jury includes an array of famous LVMH alumni including Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton’s Nicolas Ghesquière, Loewe’s Jonathan Anderson, and Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller, as well as the company’s executives Delphine Arnault, Jean-Paul Claverie and Sidney Toledano.

In February, Silvia Venturini Fendi – creative director for accessories, menswear, and children at Fendi – cried as she took an emotional bow at the end of the Italian brand’s autumn/winter 2019 show following the death of Lagerfeld.

As she left the catwalk, a screen played a video of Lagerfeld sketching the outfit he wore on his first day working at Fendi in 1965.

Each attendee at the show was greeted with a card on their seat featuring the date the designer passed away alongside his signature.

The show notes for the collection also noted a number of references to Lagerfeld including pointed shirt collars and the use of his curling “Karligraphy” FF logo that appeared on cabochon buttons and intarsia fur.

Chanel paid homage to the German designer by beginning its highly-anticipated Paris Fashion Week show in March with a minute’s silence.

Models stood shoulder-to-shoulder at the top of the runway while the touching tribute took place. Cara Delevingne, a long-time muse of Lagerfeld’s, later led the finale of models to the sounds of David Bowie’s “Heroes”.