Renaissance Renaissance. Photo: Instagram/@renaissance_renaissance
The semi-finalists for the 2021 LVMH Prize have been announced and among them is Lebanese womenswear brand Renaissance Renaissance. Helmed by Cynthia Mehraj, the Lebanon and France-based label aims to create garments that reflect the many contradictions of being a woman today, and those that will see a woman through different phases of her life. The brand is known for its minimalistic nuances and nods to Algerian, Lebanese, and Ottoman fashion. Mehrej is a Central Saint Martins graduate and followed in the footsteps of her mother and great-grandmother when she opened her own atelier in 2016.
Other semi-finalists for the LVMH Prize include London-based designer Nensi Dojaka, known for her asymmetrical creations, and Christopher Rogers, who won the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund.
Jacket inspired by historical Ottoman garments. Photo: Instagram/@renaissance_renaissance
In 2020, young designers worldwide were forced to adapt to new methods to fuel their artistry and creativity. The pandemic ignited a new wave of innovation, embodied by the 20 semi-finalists for the 2021 LVMH Prize. Their collections will be shown in a virtual showroom from April 6-11, and for the first time, visitors will be able to vote for their favorites.
“This year, over 1,900 people applied: Young designers are showing great maturity in their work,” said Delphine Arnault, executive vice president of Louis Vuitton and founder of the LVMH Prize. “Today, designers are asked to be much more than designers, and the candidates have adapted to this new reality. They are very aware of their image, they build their businesses… and above all, they think about creation and its environmental issues. All the semi-finalists show a sincere and deep commitment, whether it be social, ethical, artisanal, environmental, or local. They are anchored in today’s world.”
Photo: Instagram/@renaissance_renaissance
The 2021 winner will receive a €300,000 prize and a year of mentorship from designers and executives within the LVMH, the winner of the Karl Lagerfeld special price will receive a €150,000 sum and a year of mentorship. The LVMH Prize also welcomes a new ambassador, Naomi Osaka, the 23-year-old tennis champion, as well as Bella Hadid and editor-in-chief of Vogue China Margaret Zhang who will present the grand prize.
The 2021 LVMH Prize semi-finalists are:
AGR, a British womenswear brand based in the United Kingdom, designed by Alicia Robinson, 30
Bianca Saunders, a British menswear brand based in the United Kingdom, designed by Bianca Saunders, 28
Charles de Vilmorin, a French genderless brand based in France, designed by Charles de Vilmorin, 25
Christopher John Rogers, an American womenswear brand based in the United States, designed by Christopher John Rogers, 28
Conner Ives, an American womenswear brand based in the United Kingdom, designed by Conner Ives, 25
Federico Cina, an Italian genderless brand based in Italy, designed by Frederico Cina, 27
KidSuper, an American menswear brand based in the United States, designed by Colm Dillane, 30
Kika Vargas, a Columbian womenswear brand based in Columbia, designed by Kika Vargas, 38
Lagos Space Programme, a Nigerian genderless brand based in Nigeria, designed by Adeju Thompson, 30
Lukhanyo Mdingi, a South African womenswear and menswear brand based in South Africa, designed by Lukhanyo Mdingi, 29
Midorikawa Official, a Japanese genderless brand based in Japan, designed by Tadu Midorikawa, 39
Nensi Dojaka, an Albanian womenswear brand based in the United Kingdom, designed by Nensi Dojaka, 28
Post Archive Faction, a Korean menswear brand based in South Korea, designed by Dongjoon Lim, 29
Renaissance Renaissance, a Lebanese womenswear brand based in Lebanon and France, designed by Cynthia Mehrej, 32
Rier, an Italian genderless brand based in France, designed by Andreas Steiner, 36
Rui, a Chinese genderless brand based in China, designed by Rui Zhou, 27
Saul Nash, a British menswear brand based in the United Kingdom, designed by Saul Nash, 31
Shuting Qiu, a Chinese womenswear brand based in China, designed by Shuting Qiu, 27
Taakk, a Japanese menswear brand based in Japan, designed by Takuya Morikawa, 39
Wed, a British womenswear brand based in the United Kingdom, designed by Amy Trinh and Evan Phillips, both 30
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