Who is Gabriel Figueiredo, the only French finalist for the LVMH Prize? From the rigor of La Cambre to the studios of Galliano and Dior

As the sole French representative among the nine finalists for the 2026 edition of the prestigious LVMH Prize, Gabriel Figueiredo brings a refreshing and theatrical vision to Parisian fashion. Selected from over 2,400 applicants before standing out during the semi-final at La Samaritaine, the designer will present his brand, De Pino, this coming September at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. At stake for the winner: a €400,000 grant and a one-year mentorship by group experts, alongside the Karl Lagerfeld Prize and the Savoir-Faire Prize, each awarded €200,000.

From La Cambre to top couture houses

Graduating in 2017 with a Master's degree in Fashion Design from the prestigious La Cambre school in Brussels, Gabriel Figueiredo forged a rare technical standard and a meticulous eye for tailoring there. In 2019, he joined Maison Margiela's Artisanal line as an embroiderer, working under the creative direction of John Galliano and later Glenn Martens. He recently shared in an interview with Numéro magazine: "When I arrived at Margiela, John Galliano was still the creative director. I then took part in Glenn Martens' first collection. It was fascinating to see two such different approaches follow one another. What struck me most about John Galliano was his exceptional knowledge of haute couture. He has a complete mastery of atelier techniques and craftsmanship, which allows him to push artisans further and further. He would arrive with very precise ideas, challenging a seam, a construction, or an assembly method simply to see if there was another way to do it. With Glenn Martens, the approach was more instinctive and visual. Personally, I feel perhaps closer to John Galliano's vision, as I love the idea that a dress can appear remarkably simple when its construction is, in reality, extremely complex."

Strengthened by this immersion in fine craftsmanship and exceptional garment making, he joined the Christian Dior women's studio in November 2025 as a freelance designer.

The myth of the Parisienne

In 2020, Gabriel Figueiredo founded De Pino, taking its name from his grandmother's surname. The brand quickly established itself as a conceptual luxury label merging elegance, experimentation, and playfulness. Through highly desirable collections, the designer enjoys deconstructing the cliché of the "Parisienne" by offering sculpted, voluminous silhouettes paired with a festive and subtly ironic imagery.

The label, which presented its very first runway show during Haute Couture Fashion Week in June 2024, has already held two Parisian presentations outside the official calendar. Gabriel Figueiredo's path to the LVMH Prize final marks the emergence of a unique signature, seamlessly blending the high standards of Parisian ateliers with a subversive, joyful poetry.