LVMH Maestri d’Eccellenza announced the nine finalists, selected from approximately 350 applications received, for the third edition of the Maestri d’Eccellenza Award. The third edition carried out in collaboration with Confartigianato Imprese, Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, and Thélios, will see the internationally renowned director Ferzan Ozpetek as president of the jury.

From the applications received, three finalists were identified for each category of the award:
- Maestro Artigiano d’Eccellenza (for professionals and businesses with at least 10 years of experience in creativity and technical expertise applied to the use of local raw materials, also with a focus on supply chain protection);
- Maestro Emergente Artigiano d’Eccellenza (for those representing a promising craft project established in the 10 years prior to applying for the competition);
- Maestro dell’Innovazione d’Eccellenza (for professionals and businesses that have distinguished themselves through the ability to innovate, preserving historical skills and knowledge while reinterpreting them in a modern way).

Finalists - Maestro Artigiano d’Eccellenza 2025
- Pietro Barbini (AAV Barbini, a laboratory specializing in glass engraving and the production of Venetian mirrors);
- Domitilla Biondi (Paper Poetry, specializing in bas-reliefs on paper and porcelain)
- Patrizia Fabri (Antica Manifattura Cappelli, a laboratory active in the production of headgear)

Finalists - Maestro Emergente Artigiano d’Eccellenza 2025
- Marta Benet Morera (ceramics)
- Youlin Li (Lunéville embroidery)
- Bianca Sannolo (embroidery and painting)

Finalists - Maestro dell’Innovazione d’Eccellenza 2025
- Elham M. Aghili (textile art)
- Lucia Massei (goldsmithing)
- Barbara Ricchi (leather objects)

Each winner will receive: €10,000 to reinvest in their business; Media exposure; Up to three mentoring sessions with professionals from Thélios, on topics and timelines to be agreed upon with the Maison; Dedicated visits to Thélios facilities, according to methods and timelines to be subsequently communicated by the Maison, with the aim of deepening the knowledge of production processes, savoir-faire of involved artisans and technicians, and exploring potential collaborations between the Maison and the winning artisans.

The winners will be announced at the award ceremony, which will take place during the Milan Fashion Week in September 2025 at the Belvedere of Palazzo Lombardia in Milano.

Maestri d’Eccellenza Award 2025
September 2025 - Milan Fashion Week
Belvedere - Palazzo Lombardia
Piazza Città di Lombardia
20124 Milano