“I’m speechless,” said Belgian designer Julie Kegels, after being presented with the 2026 LVMH Prize by actor Jennifer Lawrence at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris on Friday. The Belgian designer, who went on to thank her team members and collaborators by name, is widely known for her varied and imaginative explorations of modern feminine identity. With this major industry victory, Kegels will receive a €400,000 cash grant alongside a year of customized, hands-on mentorship from a dedicated team of LVMH experts.
Earlier that morning in Paris, an exceptional group of nine finalists presented their collections to a megawatt jury featuring some of the most influential titans in the global fashion industry. The panel included prominent creative directors and executives such as Jonathan Anderson, Phoebe Philo, Nicolas Ghesquière, Maria Grazia Chiuri, and Pharrell Williams, alongside LVMH Prize founder and Dior CEO Delphine Arnault.
Despite the high-profile judges praising Kegels for her deep understanding of her client base and her exceptionally clear design vision, she admitted to being genuinely surprised by the win. “I didn’t expect it at all. It was a total shock, but I am very moved,” Kegels said following the official announcement. “I have found this whole experience incredibly motivating.”
When questioned backstage about why Kegels stood out in such an exceptionally strong group of finalists, Delphine Arnault noted in an interview after the ceremony that it came down to how confidently the designer was able to present her vision to the jury. This year’s judging panel, which featured significant new additions including Celine’s Michael Rider and Louis Vuitton CEO Pietro Beccari, stands as the largest the LVMH Prize has ever convened. “The jury this time around was very focused on where people produce, where they distribute, and who the final client is,” said Arnault. “They were interested in designers who could clearly articulate who their customers are.”
Looking ahead, Kegels plans to use the substantial prize money to significantly improve the infrastructure of her growing brand and build out her currently small team, the designer shared backstage post-announcement. As for the year-long mentorship, she is hoping it will provide critical support for her financial management while also assisting her in the difficult hunt for specialized manufacturers who truly respect and accommodate emerging designers. “Sometimes, it’s hard to get manufacturers to make more complex pieces,” Kegels explained. “It would be great to be put in contact with some high-quality suppliers.”
An esteemed graduate of the Antwerp academy, Kegels officially launched her eponymous label in 2024 and made her highly anticipated runway debut in Paris last September. Each of her collections tells a distinct story of womanhood. This includes her "Quick Change" collection for Spring/Summer 2026, where the designer cleverly incorporated elements of magic tricks to construct a series of highly transformable looks, responding directly to the busy modern woman’s need for multiple functional outfits within a single day. Furthermore, her aura-inspired Fall/Winter 2026 show created striking visual illusions on garments using shadow, revealing how subtle design tricks can fundamentally alter how a woman’s outfit is perceived by the eye. Because Kegels’s upcoming Paris show is scheduled to take place in just 24 days, she noted that after a brief celebration and a glass of champagne, it is straight back to Antwerp to finalize the collection. “There’s a lot to do, but I’m excited,” she said.
In addition to the main prize, the Karl Lagerfeld Prize for Innovation was awarded to New York-based designer Zane Li of the brand Lii by actor and activist Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Born in Chongqing, China, the Fashion Institute of Technology graduate is widely recognized for his seamless blending of athletic sportswear and high-end couture. Li will receive a €200,000 cash grant as well as a year of tailored mentorship from LVMH experts.
“This is really validation after the past few years of hard work,” Li said following his win. “To be recognized by the people you admire is a really solid feeling. It’s all quite surreal.” Currently operating as a team of one, with the vital assistance of his stylist partner, Li is looking to strategically build out his business and invest heavily in its production and direct-to-consumer capabilities. The designer had originally been set to return to New York on Saturday to continue rigorous preparations for his upcoming runway show on September 14, but he has since decided to extend his stay in the City of Light a little longer to fully soak in the momentous occasion.
Meanwhile, the Savoir-Faire Prize, presented by Thai actor and model Urassaya Sperbund, was awarded to Yoshita 1967 by Anil Padia, marking a historic milestone as the first Kenyan finalist in the prize’s history. This specific award was introduced in 2024 to celebrate exceptional artisanship within a luxury industry that is increasingly placing renewed emphasis on traditional craft and heritage to underscore its intrinsic value. “I am completely lost for words. This has been such a collective effort from everybody in our team in Nairobi and I’m extremely honored,” Padia said in his heartfelt acceptance speech. The brand, built collaboratively between Nairobi and Paris through the unique lens of the designer’s Kenyan-Indian heritage, focuses heavily on slow production cycles and long-term partnerships with women-led craft communities across Kenya. Winning the Savoir-Faire Prize holds profound personal meaning for Padia, who believes that Africa’s rich craft traditions are not celebrated often enough on the global stage.
“I feel a lot of gratitude and a real sense of hope,” Padia added backstage after the ceremony. “It’s been really hard getting to this point. The prize and the potential of winning means a lot, and so working in that limbo is difficult. This is extremely validating.”
As the annual prize continues to evolve, the selected designers consistently express diverse values and explore a wide spectrum of aesthetics that accurately reflect the cultural and economic temperament of the times. “When we started in 2013, collections were strictly separated between men’s and women’s. Later, we saw the rise of genderless fashion, and then the rise of sportswear—brought by figures like Virgil Abloh and other American designers,” Arnault reflected. “Then, it was about upcycling garments. Now, I’ve noticed quite a few pieces being created as one-offs, incorporating distinctive details. That involves a lot of work, especially with custom orders.” This shift makes complete sense as contemporary designers explore innovative business models and aim directly for top-spending consumers who are willing to invest significantly in unique, special pieces.
Of course, as Arnault readily acknowledged, it remains a uniquely challenging economic time to launch or scale an independent luxury label. Many of the finalists in this year’s edition spoke candidly about the persistent cash-flow challenges associated with paying for complex collections and production costs entirely upfront. Through the provision of these cash prizes and expert guidance, LVMH aims to actively alleviate these foundational hurdles, allowing creators like Kegels, Li, and Padia to expand their teams and collaborate with highly skilled industry consultants, Arnault explained. Even with this crucial helping hand, she admitted, choosing to be an independent fashion designer today simply “takes courage.”
