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The first-ever Carmen Busquets Couture Prize went to designer Raul Lopez, founder of Luar, at the Latin American Fashion Awards in the Dominican Republic on Saturday. The awards, which took place at the Altos de Chavon Amphitheatre from Nov. 6-9, celebrate fashion industry figures of Latin American origin and heritage across 17 categories.
The prize was one of the most anticipated honours of the event and the only one with a cash component. US-based Lopez, who has Dominican roots, competed against finalists Paula Raia of Brazil and Kris Goyri of Mexico.
Worth $50,000, the prize was created and funded by Venezuelan philanthropist and entrepreneur Carmen Busquets, a founding investor in Net-a-Porter and an early investor in Moda Operandi, Farfetch and Lyst among others. “It fills me with great joy to see stars and cultural icons wearing the couture creations of a young Latin designer like Raul Lopez alongside those of legendary figures like Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera,” she said.
Busquets said her motivation for the prize was to spotlight designers within the region and in the global Latin diaspora, rewarding those who promote made-to-measure craftsmanship, “slow” fashion principles and sustainable innovation. “Couture is one of the most beautiful ways to honour the art of fashion,” she said, underscoring the importance of supporting artisans and bespoke practices.
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Other prize winners at the Latin American Fashion Awards included Mexican-American designer Willy Chavarria and emerging Mexican designer Patricio Campillo, Dominican-American photographer Renell Medrano and emerging Venezuelan photographer Silvana Trevale. Peru’s Jorge Salinas was named artisanal project award winner and the fashion impact leader of the year went to Ecuadorian environmental activist Helena Gualinga. American model Paloma Elsesser, who has Chilean heritage, was named model of the year.
The jury, presided over by Donatella Versace, included well-known industry figures such as Steven Kolb, Carlo Capasa, Nina Garcia, Karla Martinez de Salas, Anna dello Russo, Carmen Busquets and Alessia Glaviano.
The Latin American Fashion Awards’ line-up — and the selection criteria behind it — highlights the perspective of founders Constanza Cavalli Etro and Silvia Argüello as they seek to present Latin American fashion in a glamorous international setting.
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