NEW YORK, United States — LVMH announced the 2024 semi-finalists for their annual prize for young fashion designers. Of the 20 contenders, one name stood out — twenty-six-year old Togo-born Jacques Agbobly behind their eponymous brand. Agbobly has swept quite a few awards in recent months, including the inaugural “One To Watch” by WWD and the Inclusivity In Fashion Award from Fashion Trust US. Yet the LVMH Prize, in its 11th edition, is certainly one of the most prestigious. Even those who do not win find their business prospects much brighter by association.

Past LVMH Prize winners, including Thebe Magugu (2019) and Wales Bonner (2016), and past semi-finalists like Kenneth Ize, Botter, Ahluwalia, and Nicholas Daley are some of the most imaginative voices in the industry today. In their words, Agbobly remarked, “receiving this acknowledgment at this point in my career is incredibly monumental. It is undeniable that this industry presents formidable challenges and it often feels like the odds are stacked against emerging designers.”

They continued, “the aim for Agbobly is to elevate African fashion to the world stage, and I invite each of you to join me in cultivating a journey of empowerment and artistic expression from a West African perspective.” The brand showed last week during NYFW to due applause, no doubt buoyed by a co-sign from the largest luxury conglomerate in the world. That said, the cohort will be narrowed to a final eight finalists before the winner is crowned in the coming weeks. Good luck!