“Delphine has such a daunting résumé as a leader in fashion at Dior that I, like everyone, am in awe of what she has done and of the wisdom and care with which she has done it,” said Vogue’s Anna Wintour onstage at The Fashion Awards presented by Pandora in London last night. She was there to present Christian Dior CEO Delphine Arnault with the Special Recognition Award for her exceptional contribution to the fashion industry.
Arnault’s CV is, indeed, expansive and includes a stint at consultancy firm McKinsey before moving on to work for LVMH, which her father Bernard founded in the 1980s. Starting at John Galliano’s own label in 2000 (when he was creatively leading Dior), she moved a year later to work for Christian Dior as deputy managing director. In 2013, Arnault was appointed executive vice president of Louis Vuitton and stayed in the role until 2023, when she returned to Dior as chair and chief executive officer.
Arnault’s most significant contribution to the industry, however, comes in the way she has supported young design talent, best exemplified in her founding of the LVMH Prize in 2014, which on top of a €300,000 endowment, comes with a one-year tailored mentorship from specialized LVMH teams. Past winners and finalists include Grace Wales Bonner, Simon Porte Jacquemus, Virgil Abloh, Demna and Nensi Dojaka.
“There’s really no one else who has done more to cultivate new generations of British talent, from Sarah [Burton] and John [Galliano] to Phoebe Philo and Jonathan Anderson. It was Delphine, for instance, who first saw the brilliant potential of Jonathan Anderson for Dior — and it was 100% Delphine who came up with the idea for the LVMH Prize, which is now not just an institution, but one of the leading arbiters of new talent in our industry,” said Wintour.
Since 2020, the house of Dior has also sponsored a BFC Foundation MA Scholarship in Menswear, covering tuition fees and contributing to living costs, while also offering mentorship from the Dior menswear teams. To mark the occasion, Arnault on Monday evening announced that the house would now also support a Scholarship in Womenswear. Ahead of the event, Arnault agreed to answer a few questions pertaining to those scholarships, lessons and moments she holds dear from founding the LVMH Prize, and her immediate plans for Dior. You can find that conversation below.
Vogue: It’s been a little over 10 years since you launched the LVMH Prize. How did the idea for it come about?
It is more essential than ever to support the talents of tomorrow and creativity in all its forms. More than 10 years ago, this was already my primary ambition: to bring creativity and audacity to the forefront, with France and Paris as key locations for fashion and couture, culture and savoir faire, and of course the emergence of new talent from all over the world.
Vogue: What are some moments you hold dearly from those years?
All of them stand out because the encounters with these remarkable talents have shaped the way I see and understand the future of fashion and its heritage. Some of them attended prestigious schools while others are self-taught, but each has their own unique universe, offering us a vision of fashion at a given moment in time, a distillation of trends ranging from genderless to reinvented artisanal excellence.
Every one of these gifted individuals crossed paths with leading names of the industry, whether Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, Jonathan Anderson, Nicolas Ghesquière, Phoebe Philo, or other artistic directors. These encounters were decisive, changed their lives and launched their careers. They set up their own fashion houses, and launching one’s own brand is no small feat. It takes courage, perseverance and adaptation: it’s the work of a lifetime.
I remember very fondly the participation of Karl Lagerfeld. He supported the LVMH Prize from the very first day and was a tremendous source of inspiration for all.
This award, which is open to all nationalities, has become an incubator and a breeding ground for talent among the new generations, and I am very proud that Simon Jacquemus, Virgil Abloh, Marine Serre, Demna and Grace Wales Bonner, to name but a few, have participated in previous editions and ended up becoming central figures in the fashion world. Each of my encounters with the young designers who have participated in the prize has been an opportunity to reinvent our shared creative visions and forge new connections and directions.
Vogue: What are some learnings you’ve taken along the way through building the LVMH Prize?
That audacity always pays off. That creation is a ‘living matter’ in motion, which is definitely at the heart of the passions that have always driven me. That transmission is crucial, as are encounters, creative alliances, curiosity and passion.
At Dior, we prioritize passing on savoir faire and supporting talented individuals to help them grow and flourish: the LVMH Prize, which I have championed over the past decade, has further strengthened this ambition and is very close to my heart.
Vogue: What do you think are the priorities for supporting young talent now? And have they changed compared to 2014, when you started the LVMH Prize?
One of my priorities is making the award as visible and accessible as possible — on the condition that candidates have already produced two collections — and simplifying the registration process as much as possible, with our team of scouts helping us identify talent globally.
Thanks to this award, young designers are able to access an ecosystem that is more essential than ever in assisting them to develop their craft and business via introductions to industry leaders: photographers to makeup artists, models, editors-in-chief, department store purchasers, and so forth. Whether they make it to the final or not, the 20 semi-finalists come out of it enriched and inspired, and I want to maintain and expand this vital support, because in 2025, the competition is even tougher than it was in 2014, when the award first began.
Vogue: Last time we spoke, it was around the announcement of Jonathan Anderson at the helm of Dior, who of course you’ve propelled since the beginnings of his career. What do you look for in new design talent? How do you know if someone has what it takes to go the distance?
Jonathan has extraordinary talent, unique versatility and inventiveness, as well as an amazing work ethic. He is a force of nature in the fashion world doing men’s, women’s and haute couture collections at the same time. His vision brings a breath of fresh air and a playful spirit that we need now more than ever. I am proud and happy that Dior is his new home and look forward to seeing all our projects come to life, celebrating our heritage while reinventing it.
In my opinion, the secret to success is to work hard and cultivate our uniqueness, through the art of reinvention, curiosity and audacity.
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Vogue: What an interesting year for luxury we’ve had with so many debuts across the big fashion houses in September and October. What do you think this last fashion month can tell us about the future of the industry?
Paris Fashion Week was the most exciting in the past 25 years. It is a fabulous playground for studying both present and future trends, and as the last few months have shown, it offers and will always offer wonderful surprises and virtuoso revivals. Jonathan Anderson is one of its most remarkable embodiments.
Vogue: How are you advising Anderson as he heads into his first-ever couture season?
Jonathan has complete creative freedom to design his first haute couture collection, as he does with all his collections. His extensive knowledge of the house and his passion for its history, archives and the exceptional savoir faire of Dior’s ateliers guide him in this collective endeavor, which is so inspiring.
Vogue: On the cruise show that you just announced, why did you decide to have it in LA?
Los Angeles has long been at the heart of our history. Monsieur Dior visited the city in 1947, just a few months after the triumph of the New Look and forged numerous connections and collaborations there.
It is also a cultural capital, as much for cinema as for the arts — contemporary art, architecture, design... All Jonathan Anderson’s passions, which are also dear to the house. California is also the home of technology and where many of the world’s most innovative company headquarters are located. It’s why we just opened our beautiful new house of Dior on Rodeo Drive.
Vogue: Where do you see growth potential in the US?
The United States has always been a very promising market for Dior. Whether on the West Coast or the East Coast, we have constantly developed special relationships and collaborations with iconic department stores such as Saks or Neiman Marcus since the house was founded. So for Dior, the States has ceaselessly been a source of expansion, a deeply inspiring country for projects that are totally unique, such as our brand new houses of Dior in New York and Beverly Hills.
Vogue: Are there any other specific regions you are focusing on in 2026?
We will develop great projects all over the world, in Asia, China, Japan, the US and Europe. Each time, we forge partnerships with local cultures, traditions and savoir faire because it has always been important for our house to promote arts and crafts of excellence while exalting the French art de vivre so dear to Christian Dior. We will open beautiful stores in Beijing, Milan and Osaka all within the next 12 months.
Vogue: Can you tell me a little about the scholarships you are announcing tonight? How did the partnership with the BFC come about and what does the scholarship entail?
The BFC Dior Men MA scholarship, launched in 2020, has empowered multiple students to pursue MA studies in Menswear Design. Through the partnership with the BFC Foundation, Dior provides bespoke mentorship and industry insights, fostering exceptional talent and earning strong recognition among academics and universities.
The scholarship is available to Menswear Design students accepted on an MA Fashion Design course in the UK and is awarded once every two years, aligning with the duration of an MA course. It covers the course tuition fees with a contribution to course costs or living expenses. George Zverko from Central Saint Martins was the 2024 recipient. Recipients also receive an individual point of contact from the Dior Men design team, to provide advice and mentoring during the duration of the scholarship
We are happy to announce this evening the beginning of another scholarship to be extended to students focusing on womenswear design. It’s a huge opportunity for the next generation of designers, and we’re thrilled to be able to provide this chance to work alongside the incredible talents we have at Dior.
Reflecting Dior’s values of excellence in creativity, heritage, innovation and sustainability, as well as the maison’s globally recognized leadership in womenswear design, the scholarship would continue to provide mentorship for both recipients to help them enter the fashion industry. As is currently, a Dior representative would sit on the judging panel, chaired by Sarah Mower, alongside other industry experts.
Vogue: What is one piece of advice you would give entrepreneurs at the beginning of their careers?
Dare, dare, dare, meet all the dynamic forces that can support you, guide you and help you grow; don’t be afraid to fail or to be different. To create a brand is a journey. It takes time and a lot of effort. It is a marathon, not a sprint.
Vogue: What skills do aspiring designers need as we head into 2026 and beyond?
Singularity, passion, an alliance of audacity and consistency, the talent for preserving heritage while reinventing it.
Vogue: Could you share a prediction for 2026?
2026 will be ultra-creative with new chapters being written, just like the upcoming fashion weeks.
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