From one of the event’s most diverse finalist pools, South African designer Thebe Magugu has been selected as the winner of the 2019 LVMH prize. Based in Johannesburg, the 26-year-old’s design impressed an all-star jury that included Marc Jacobs, Nicolas Ghesquière, Maria Grazia Chiuri, Humberto Leon, Carol Lim, Jonathan Anderson, and Clare Waight Keller.

As the winner of 2019’s ceremony, Magugu will receive €300,000 EUR (approximately $330,000 USD) and a year of mentorship from the judges. Alicia Vikander, a Louis Vuitton ambassador, presented Magugu with the award, noting that “The talent in this room is quite simply stupefying, and the finalists represent the future of fashion.” The Prix Karl Lagerfeld, so named for the late design legend who sat on the award’s jury, went to Israel’s Hed Mayner, who will receive a grant of €150,000 ($165,000 USD) and year of mentorship from the LVMH group.

Over 1,700 entrants from 100 countries entered to win the LVMH Prize; Magugu’s thoughtful designs sealed his victory. After studying Fashion & Apparel Design at Lisof Fashion School in Johannesburg, the Kimberley-born Magugu explored the realm of photography before focusing on his womenswear line, which blends conceits of gender, heritage and dramatic silhouettes into each collection.

Recently, retailer 24S launched a special capsule sourced from each of the LVMH finalists.