Top, skirt, shoes, Alaïa; Bracelet, Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. Photographed by Peter Lindbergh for Vogue Arabia, March 2019.
Gigi Hadid may not have been selected to join the jury of Harvey Weinstein’s high-profile court case, but the half-Palestinian supermodel has been chosen as a juror for the prestigious LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers this year. The French luxury conglomerate announced the 2020 panel of experts who will be deciding the finalists of the seventh edition of the award on Friday, which included the former Vogue Arabia cover star along with Moda Operandi co-founder Lauren Santo Domingo and German model Caroline Daur.
“They are witnesses and essential actors of fashion,” described executive vice president of Louis Vuitton, Delphine Arnault, in a statement. “Their vision helps to discover the most promising talents. I would like to thank them warmly for their loyalty and commitment to our cause.”
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Hadid and the eight other new panelists join some of the biggest creatives in the fashion industry as experts of the 2020 LVMH Prize, including multiple Vogue international editors-in-chief. While applications for the Prize opened back in December, today, February 2, is the last day for designers under 40 who have created at least two collections to enter the competition for a chance to be among those selected to showcase their work at the semi-finals in Paris on February 27th and 28th at the LVMH Headquarters. Although Hadid and her fellow judges will reveal the 20 semi-finalists, the eight designers who will move forward to the Finale on June 5th will be determined by the larger committee of 59 international Experts.
The winner will not only receive an AED 1.2 million cash prize, but also a one-year mentorship from a “dedicated LVMH team” and the opportunity to work at one of the acclaimed houses within the LVMH group, including Hermés, Givenchy, and Dior, for a year.
Gigi Hadid walking in previous LVMH special prize honoree Jacquemus’ AW2021 Paris Men’s Fashion Week show. Photo: Instagram/@gigihadid
Previous victors hail from all over the world, with last year’s Prize awarded to South African designer Thebe Magugu. Honorees are quickly becoming must-watch stars in the industry, such as 2015 special prize winner Jacquemus, which featured Hadid and former Vogue Arabia cover stars Bella Hadid and Nora Attal on the AW20/21 Paris Men’s Fashion Week runway.
“So much of what I do feels surreal. There are still dreams coming true that I didn’t even know I could possibly dream when I started,” Hadid previously shared with Vogue Arabia. “But, above any job or career moment, my greatest honor has been getting to know and spend time with the designers and fashion creatives, getting to experience them as people. Those are the most surreal and cherished moments to me.”
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