These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Friday.
Julie Kegels Wins 2026 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers
Belgian designer Julie Kegels won the LVMH Prize for Young Designers Friday at a Paris ceremony, taking home a €400,000 ($464,812) grant plus a year of mentoring from LVMH experts. Chinese designer Zane Li’s label Lii took the runner-up Karl Lagerfeld Special Jury Prize, worth €200,000 ($232,406) with a year of business advisory support. Anil Padia’s Yoshita 1967 won the Savoir-Faire Prize, also carrying a €200,000 ($232,406) grant and mentorship. Other finalists included Petra Fagerström, De Pino, Ponte, Thevxlley, Institution and Colleen Allen. {Instagram}
Oura Files for IPO
Oura, health intelligence platform and maker of the smart ring, has filed with the SEC for an IPO of shares of its common stock. Share count and price range have not been set yet. The company plans to list on Nasdaq under the ticker “OURA,” with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan are among the lead book-running managers. {Business Wire}
Lululemon Cuts Outlook Ahead of CEO Shift
Ahead of incoming CEO Heidi O’Neill’s initial turnaround plan, Lululemon shares dropped by about 20% on Friday after the company cut its annual forecast for the second time. For 2026, the company now expects net revenue to be in the range of $10.35 billion to $10.50 billion, representing a decline of 5% to 7%. The retailer is losing ground to rival brands like Skims and Alo Yoga amid falling sales in both the Americas and China. {Lululemon; Reuters/paywalled}
Fashion Talent Are Reshaping Sports Teams
Fashion creative directors have become a near-standard hire for sports teams looking to boost their brand and cultural standing. Italian football club Como 1907 saw revenue jump 600% after hiring Rhude Founder Rhuigi Villaseñor in 2024, while similar moves have paid off for the NBA’s Pacers, the NFL and others through new brand partnerships and merchandise. Beyond formal appointments, clubs are also turning to one-off fashion collaborations, including recent AC Milan and Manchester City kits designed by A$AP Rocky for Puma. {Business of Fashion/paywalled}
Gloria Steinem’s Personal Style
Gloria Steinem, the pioneering feminist and Ms. magazine co-founder, died on Wednesday at 92, and is remembered for pairing decades of activism and her classic uniform: aviator glasses, concha belts and all-black outfits. Steinem said the look was partly practical. Her nearsightedness led to the glasses, and a consistent uniform of black pants and tops freed her from fashion decisions so she could focus on her work. She saw a woman’s right to choose as extending to her appearance, rejecting the idea that style and substance were at odds. {The New York Times}
