The Loewe Craft Prize and Yu Prize have recently announced their winners for 2022, shining a spotlight on the talent and creativity of emerging designers. While larger competitions like the LVMH and ANDAM prizes often grab the headlines, these smaller competitions have been gaining recognition in recent years, receiving support from brands like Loewe and Amiri, as well as influential patrons like Wendy Yu.
The Yu Prize is a unique competition in China and was recently awarded to Alex Po and Derek Cheng of Ponder.er, a gender-fluid label known for challenging traditional menswear norms. Ponder.er has made waves in the fashion industry, being featured on the French Haute Couture and Fashion Federation’s website for three seasons. The Hong Kong-based designer duo founded the label in 2019. The 2022 edition of the Yu Prize was held in partnership with Chinese sports brand Li Ning, offering a RMB1 million prize purse and the exciting opportunity to collaborate with Li Ning. In addition, the winner will receive a one-year mentorship by Italian fashion group OTB, a two-season slot at the Sphere showroom in Paris, a retail presence at Harrods, and promotional support on the Chinese e-commerce site Xiaohongshu.
The Loewe Craft Prize, which was launched in 2016 by Creative Director Jonathan Anderson, honored Korean designer and artisan Dahye Jeong for her work titled ‘A Time of Sincerity.’ Jeong’s creation was made using horse hair and showcased a traditional local technique that dates back over 500 years. This technique was historically used to make hats. As the winner, Jeong will receive €50,000 in prize money. The jury for the prize consisted of 13 influential figures from various creative fields such as design, architecture, journalism, art criticism, and museum curation. The jury, including Magdalene Odundo, Anatxu Zabalbeascoa, and Patricia Urquiola, carefully selected Jeong from a pool of 30 finalists. Furthermore, the jury gave special mentions to Andile Dyalvane from South Africa and Julia Obermaier from Germany.
In the previous year, Californian designer Mike Amiri launched the Amiri Prize aiming to nurture American fashion talent. The inaugural edition of the prize recognized designer NaaAmerley Badger, who rebranded her label Paulo Redeem as Lou Badger following her victory. With the $100,000 prize money, Badger, a self-taught black US designer now based in Mexico, was able to expand her label and collaborate with local artisans.
These smaller prizes not only offer a platform for emerging designers to showcase their talent but also provide substantial financial support and valuable industry connections to assist them in their growth. Thanks to the recognition and resources gained through these competitions, these talented designers have the opportunity to make significant strides in the competitive fashion industry. As the fashion world continues to evolve, it is exciting to witness the rise of these new platforms and the innovative talent they bring forth.
Useful links:
– Loewe Craft Prize
– Yu Prize
