What is the Louis Vuitton Accessories Design Graduates Initiative?
The Louis Vuitton Accessories Design Initiative is a design competition open to fashion and design students in their final year at one of the yearly selected international schools and universities. The Initiative aims to reward excellence and inspire the next generation of designers to embrace careers at Louis Vuitton, by celebrating expert savoir-faire in leather goods and accessories design.
What product categories are considered accessories?
Accessories refer to all fashion creations that are not a part of ready-to-wear, such as leather goods, trunks and travel bags, belts, gloves, hats, sunglasses, jewelry, and gifting.
When are applications for the Louis Vuitton Accessories Design Graduates Initiative opening this year?
Application will open on December 1st, 2025 on http://www.louisvuittondesigngraduates.com
Can anyone apply?
Only BA and MA final-year students from a selection of international fashion, design, and art schools and universities are invited to apply. Candidates of any nationality can apply. There is no age limitation for the candidates to apply and submit a project to the Initiative.
Why is the Initiative only open to a selection of schools and which schools are they?
Certain fashion, art, and design schools and universities were selected based on their variety of complementary curriculums and their high standard of education in terms of creativity and innovation. You can find the list of selected schools and universities at
http://www.louisvuittondesigngraduates.com
Will the Initiative include more schools from other countries in the future?
Edition after edition, the Initiative invites more schools and universities. Further expansion plans will be shared in due time.
How to apply?
Final-year BA & MA students from the selected fashion and design schools and universities can register, complete their profile, download the brief(s), submit their project and application, and sign the Initiative’s Competition Regulations, by the o ffi cial deadline through the dedicated website at http://www.louisvuittondesigngraduates.com
Can designers apply as a group?
Only individual applications will be accepted and eligible for review.
What is the selection process?
The LVADGI Committee first selects the fashion, design, and art schools and universities after carefully reviewing their students’ creations from shows, open days, exhibitions, graduation jury, and creative portfolios reviews. Following the submission deadline, the LVADGI Committee will review all applications to check eligibility. In-house designers review and grade projects to select Semi-finalists. In-house design directors review and grade Semi-finalists to select Finalists. At the end of the process, Finalists are invited to Paris for the Jury Days, present their projects to the Jury (travel and accommodation expenses are covered by the House).
What is the Initiative prize?
The Initiative o ff ers up to five Graduate Initiative Junior Designer positions at Louis Vuitton within the leather goods and accessories teams. Short-term and/or permanent contracts will be awarded, at the discretion of the Initiative’s jury.
Where are the Competition Regulations to be found?
The candidates can find Competition Regulations on http://www.louisvuittondesigngraduates.com
What are the most important criteria for the Initiative?
English proficiency is mandatory (French and/or Italian are welcome additions), as well as clarity of verbal and written expression. The ability to research strong visual inspirations and organize mood boards, color, materials, as well as bring to life a creative vision. Hand sketching, graphic design, technical drawing, and 3D design are also among the requirements. A good understanding of fashion, leather goods and luxury markets, as well as product design and industrial processes are equally important.
When is the application deadline?
Candidates can apply from December 1st, 2025, 12 AM (CET) until February 2nd, 2026, 11:59PM CET.
What is the timeline for the Initiative?
The Initiative will be held annually from December to April including 8 weeks for creative research and project development, pre-selection, and the final Jury process in Paris according to the schedule determined by Louis Vuitton each year. Please note that the Initiative may be suspended, postponed, modified, or terminated at any time. Please find the tentative schedule for the first edition of the Initiative here:
- December 1st, 2025, 12 AM (CET): O ffi cial launch for candidates on digital platform.
- February 2nd, 2026, 11:59 PM (CET): Submission deadline. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
- March: Announcement of finalists
- April: Final Jury selection process
- May: Announcement of winners
- September : Onboarding week
Who are the Jury members?
The members of the final Jury are Louis Vuitton experts from the following métiers/departments: Design, Marketing, and Human Resources.
Can I appeal the Jury’s decision?
The Initiative Committee and Jury as well as Louis Vuitton’s legal teams execute their roles with fairness and diplomacy. For any claims, please contact organisation-designgraduates@louisvuitton.com.
Where will the final Jury selection take place?
The final Jury selection will take place at Louis Vuitton’s headquarters in Paris and will include face-to-face interviews.
Will the finalists’ travel expenses be covered for the Jury selection process in Paris?
Yes, the finalists’ travel expenses will be covered by Louis Vuitton.
Do Winners need an EU work permit?
In the case that a winner is not European, the House will organize the required visa or work permit, and cover all associated costs, as well as relocation to Paris expenses.
Why does the application require my personal information?
Personal information is required to identify participants, authenticate their candidacy, and project submissions, as well as protect their intellectual property, and anticipate work permits and relocation support.
How are the ideas, concept, and drawings I submit to the Initiative protected?
Candidates and Louis Vuitton will retain the ownership of their existing intellectual property rights. Louis Vuitton, specifically, will retain all its intellectual property rights such as, but not limited to, the Louis Vuitton mark, LV logos and Monogram. Candidates will retain the ownership of their intellectual property rights over the developed content associated with their concept. For the sake of clarity, candidates do not acquire any right in or to any material title and any Intellectual Property belonging to Louis Vuitton or any of its affiliates.
Will my original creative concept be developed if selected as well as if not selected?
Only the winners' creative concepts might be subject to prototyping development as part of the prize, as a way to introduce them to the constraints of manufacturing and industrialization.
Will my concept be either internally or externally publicized/shared if selected as well as if not selected?
Only the winners’ profiles, their projects for the Initiative, and the prototypes developed within the Maison’s atelier may be used for both internal and external communications, photos, as well as for the promotion of the Initiative.
Can I share my creative concept on social media, in my portfolio, and with competitors and other brands?
Candidates are to take cognizance of the prevalence of intellectual theft and that their ideas can be stolen if published on social media or shared with other parties. As such, to protect both candidates and Louis Vuitton’s interests, the House insists that candidates must inform the Initiative Committee in case of any individual public communication.
Will the Initiative take place again?
The Initiative will be held annually, as determined by Louis Vuitton. Please note that the Initiative may be suspended, postponed, modified, or terminated at any time.
What actions does Louis Vuitton take towards sustainability?
At Louis Vuitton, our committed journey starts with Sourcing Responsibly, Acting on Climate Change, Committing to Circular Creativity, as well as Fostering Diversity and Inclusion and Supporting Local Communities. Louis Vuitton products are designed to last. At every stage of the creative process, we analyze the environmental impact of our creations throughout their entire life cycle: we preserve biodiversity by using fewer raw resources, in particular recycled and biosourced materials; we contribute to the climate effort by consuming less energy in the production of our products; and we integrate repairability from the first stages of the creation process. By 2022, 50% of our product categories have already undergone a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). To learn more about our Committed Journey, please visit: https://eu.louisvuitton.com/eng-e1/magazine/articles/sustainability