“I loved that [Kuwata] was a true marriage between nations,” said Stella McCartney in an Instagram story posted by LVMH after the ceremony. “He’s Japanese, he’s spent time in Savile Row in London like I did, so he touched my heart there, and he’s in Paris and New York. I loved his work, I wanted to wear his work. I think he has a beautiful imagination, quality ... he had it all.”

Kuwata’s prize includes a €400,000 endowment and mentorship from a team of LVMH experts for one year, both of which aim to provide opportunities for Kuwata’s next steps in the fashion industry. Previous winners of the Young Designer award include Steven Stokey-Daley of SS Daley, Masayuki Ino of Doublet, and Nensi Dojaka, Thebe Magugu and Marine Serre, who each own an eponymous brand.

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