Nearly Half of This Year’s LVMH Prize Finalists Are Based in London—See the Complete List Here

The experts have spoken: Today, the LVMH Prize committee is revealing the finalists for the 2018 award. Duos fared well, accounting for three of the nine. Five of the finalists call London home; two finalists are based in the U.S. Gender fluidity made an impact, too, as three finalists are positioned as gender neutral. “I think our selection embodies the current diversity in fashion,” Delphine Arnault, executive vice president of LVMH and founder of the Prize, told Vogue. “Some of the designers are appropriating a new femininity, while others are focused on blending menswear and womenswear. The creative diversity really galvanized the showroom.”

New experts on this year’s panel include investor Carmen Busquets, fashion muse Lady Amanda Harlech, and Dior face Bella Hadid, as well as fashion educators Fabio Piras, Burak Cakmak, and Hans de Foer (of Central Saint Martins, Parsons School of Design, and IFM, respectively). Added Arnault, “The feedback we received from our more seasoned experts was very enthusiastic, and I think the new additions may have found it tough to select the finalists.” A winner will be chosen on June 6 in Paris.

Meet the finalists first here:

A-COLD-WALL by Samuel Ross (British designer based in London). Menswear showing in London.

BOTTER by Rushemy Botter and Lisi Herrebrugh (Dutch designers based in Antwerp). Menswear showing in Paris.

CHARLES JEFFREY LOVERBOY by Charles Jeffrey (British designer based in London). Womenswear and menswear showing in London.

DOUBLET by Masayuki Ino (Japanese designer based in Tokyo). Gender-neutral fashion showing in Tokyo.

ECKHAUS LATTA by Zoe Latta and Mike Eckhaus (American designers based in New York and Los Angeles). Womenswear and menswear showing in New York.

KWAIDAN EDITIONS by Léa Dickely and Hung La (French and American-Vietnamese designers based in London). Womenswear showing in Paris.

LUDOVIC DE SAINT SERNIN by Ludovic de Saint Sernin (French designer based in Paris). Gender-neutral fashion showing in Paris.

MATTHEW ADAMS DOLAN by Matthew Adams Dolan (American designer based in New York). Gender-neutral fashion showing in New York.

ROKH by Rok Hwang (South Korean designer based in London). Womenswear showing in Paris.