Toshi and six other groundbreaking start-ups were recently honored at the prestigious LVMH Innovation Awards held during the VivaTech trade show in Paris from June 15 to 18. Out of 950 entries and 21 finalists, Toshi emerged as the winner for this year’s competition. The awards ceremony, which took place on June 16, was graced by the presence of LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault. Arnault, along with his son Antoine Arnault and Maurice Lévy, engaged in a conversation with Livi, LVMH’s newly introduced virtual ambassador, amidst the virtual universe called the Metaverse.
Toshi not only claimed the top spot as the overall winner but also secured the Operations and Manufacturing Excellence award. Founded in London by Sojin Lee in 2017, Toshi offers a unique tool that allows customers a designated 30-minute window to collect their orders, experience the products in various sizes firsthand, and receive tailored suggestions for other pieces. This innovative solution has already been successfully implemented by prestigious brands such as Berluti, Christian Dior Couture, and Rimowa.
In the sustainability category, the victor was French company WeTurn. Launched in 2020 by Sophie Pignères, WeTurn’s mission is to transform unsold products and surplus materials from various brands and manufacturers into new threads and fabrics. Notably, this process has been utilized in the creation of Christian Dior Couture’s renowned Toile de Jouy fabric.
Los Angeles-based MarqVision took home the award for the data and artificial intelligence category. MarqVision applies image recognition and semantic analysis to identify and eliminate counterfeit goods from online marketplaces. Their remarkable services are currently being utilized by eminent brands like Bulgari and Tiffany&Co.
Bitski, a notable French start-up, secured the virtual experience and metaverse award. Their solutions allow brands to create, manage, and sell NFTs (non-fungible tokens). Gamino, another distinguished French company, was awarded for their efforts in employee experience and corporate social responsibility. Gamino provides digital courses designed to raise awareness about disabilities in a fun and personalized manner.
The Media & Brand Awareness award was presented to Swedish company SeenThis for their streaming tool that displays ads instantly and adjusts the image quality based on the user’s internet connection while maintaining high resolution. The coveted omnichannel and retail award went to Swiss company The ShowCase for their innovative tool that enables watch and jewelry sellers to showcase their products via live video sessions. This groundbreaking solution has gained traction among renowned brands like Louis Vuitton, Chaumet, and Tag Heuer.
During the awards ceremony, Bernard Arnault expressed his unwavering faith in the future of technology, highlighting the family’s enduring interest in the IT sector. He particularly emphasized the significance of advancements in NFTs and the metaverse. While acknowledging that young people are well-versed in these concepts, he acknowledged the complexities associated with purchasing an NFT and the need for virtual headsets to access the metaverse. Ultimately, Arnault emphasized that the adoption of these cutting-edge technologies would be determined by the clients themselves.
Closing his address, Arnault shared his optimism about LVMH’s performance in the first half of the year, assuring that the company is on a “very good track.” He confidently stated that the figures would substantiate this optimistic outlook.
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