Setchu Just Took Home The 2023 LVMH Prize

After months of deliberation, LVMH finally announced the winner of the 2023 LVMH Prize. Of the nine finalists vying for the coveted accolade (and a cash prize of 300,000 euros), it’s Japanese designer Satoshi Kuwata who came out on top today. Along with the impressive sum of cash, Kuwata will also receive mentorship from LVMH’s team of experts who will guide the designer's growth with Setchu.

Setchu comes from the Japanese word ‘wayo setchu’ which roughly translates to compromise between Japan and the West. An apt name considering Setchu’s design ethos is rooted in merging Japanese and Western aesthetics. While Kuwata was born and raised in Japan, he established his label in Milan after living in London, New York and Paris. Among the 2,400 applicants for this year’s prize, Kuwata impressed the jury (including Kim Jones, Nicholas Ghesquire, Stella McCartney and more) with his conceptual unisex aesthetic.

The prizes were announced by Delphine Arnault, Xin Liu, and Gal Gadot. Upon receiving the grand prize trophy from the Wonderwoman actress, Kuwata lovingly told the audience, 'I was a really naughty boy and my mom was really worried. Now, I can make my mom really happy.'

Arnault and Liu presented the two Karl Lagerfeld Prizes to Julie Pelipas of Bettter and Luca Magliano who will both receive 150,000 euros and their own mentorship. While not the grand prize, the two equally deserve their accolades for building brands from two wholly unique perspectives.

Magliano’s irreverent tailoring and queer culture references have made him a favourite at Milan Fashion Week. Earlier this year, he told SHOWstudio editor Hetty Mahlich that his goal is to ’represent an Italy that is often untold’. As for Pelipas, the former Vogue Ukraine editor has built her own loyal following, thanks to Bettter’s sustainable initiatives that include sourcing and upcycling deadstock fabrics. Pelipas also provided her expertise in our haute couture live panel discussion earlier this year.