Drum roll please… the 2022 LVMH Prize for Young Designers winner is Steven Stokey Daley! The founder of the label S.S. Daley was announced the winner early Thursday morning at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris.
Presented by actress Cate Blanchett, Daley was one of eight finalists for the LVMH prize (meet them all here), and takes home the prestigious title, a year of mentorship from the luxury conglomerate’s network and a cash prize of 300,000 euros (about $356,000).
Seven artistic directors of design houses within the LVMH Group were in attendance to congratulate the winner, including Jonathan Anderson, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Nicolas Ghesquière, Kim Jones, Stella McCartney, Nigo and Silvia Venturini Fendi.
The designer expressed his excitement on Instagram captioning his post, “I can’t believe that… S.S.DALEY WON the LVMH prize (!) I’m so thrilled to have had the opportunity to introduce my world to the incredible jury of permanent inspirations.” Daley also gave a shoutout to his supporters, including journalist Sarah Mower and stylist Harry Lambert. “Thank you to everyone for their constant support; it really wouldn’t be possible without the incredible team around me,” he added.
“I am very happy that Steven Stokey Daley has won the LVMH 2022 Prize for his brand, S.S. Daley,” says Delphine Arnault, executive vice president of Louis Vuitton. “He appropriates the codes of tailoring by playing with the clichés of upper-class English culture.”
The London-based designer has garnered a cult-like following for his hand-crocheted knitwear and one-of-a-kind shirts. A Westminster School of Art graduate, his sustainably-conscious menswear designs are a fan favorite of Harry Styles — so much so he wore a piece by Daley on the cover of his latest album.
Before launching his namesake brand in 2020, Daley got his footing in menswear, working with labels Alexander McQueen and Tom Ford. He first got noticed as an independent designer from his graduate collection, where he used donated Alexander McQueen fabrics to craft the entire range.
The LVMH jury is comprised of industry experts including Jonathan Anderson, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Nicolas Ghesquière, Kim Jones, Stella McCartney, Nigo and Silvia Venturini Fendi, as well as Delphine Arnault, Jean-Paul Claverie and Sidney Toled.
The judges also awarded Eli Russell Linnetz of ERL and Idris Balogun of Winnie New York the Karl Lagerfeld Special Jury Prize, which was presented by Olympic gold medallist Eileen Gu. Both designers take home 150,000 euros (about $161,000) and a year of mentoring.
