The fourth Maestri d’Eccellenza Award, developed with Bulgari, spotlights nine Italian artisans across mastery, emerging talent, and innovation
LVMH Métiers d’Excellence has revealed the nine finalists for the fourth edition of its Maestri d’Eccellenza Award, organized in partnership with Bulgari, Confartigianato Imprese, and Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana. The program recognizes Italian artisans across three categories spanning established mastery, emerging talent, and innovation, with the winners set to be announced on September 14 at the Bulgari Hotel in Rome.
The finalists reflect a broad interpretation of contemporary Italian craftsmanship. In the emerging talent category, the shortlist includes ceramist Federica Paglia; Verde Alfieri, whose practice centers on paper; and textile artisan Alessandra Roveda. The wider selection spans disciplines and materials that extend beyond fashion’s most visible métiers, reinforcing the award’s focus on the broader ecosystem of specialized skills that supports Italy’s creative economy.
Now in its fourth edition, the Maestri d’Eccellenza Award is designed to recognize artisans at different stages of their careers rather than treating craftsmanship as a single, fixed tradition. The three categories distinguish established practitioners with sustained careers, emerging artisans with fewer than 10 years of experience, and innovators who reinterpret historic knowledge through new techniques or applications. That structure allows the program to address both preservation and evolution—two increasingly connected priorities as luxury companies work to secure specialist skills for future generations.
Bulgari’s role as the 2026 partner gives this edition particular relevance. The Roman jeweler operates in a category where technical mastery, material knowledge, and long apprenticeships remain central to product creation. As part of the prize, each winner will receive 10,000 euros to reinvest in their business, media exposure, mentoring sessions with Bulgari professionals, and dedicated visits to the maison’s production sites. The support therefore extends beyond recognition, connecting independent artisans with the operational knowledge and production environment of a major luxury house.
The initiative also sits with LVMH’s broader Métiers d’Excellence strategy. Across the group, more than 110,000 employees work in over 280 métiers spanning creation, craftsmanship, and client experience. Through training, recruitment, mentorship, and public-facing programs, LVMH has increasingly treated the transmission of specialized knowledge as a long-term business priority rather than heritage preservation alone.
That distinction matters as luxury continues to confront a practical challenge: exceptional craftsmanship depends on skills that often require years to develop and cannot be rapidly scaled when demand changes. By supporting independent artisans alongside talent within its own maisons, LVMH is investing in the wider network of knowledge that underpins the sector.
The 2026 finalists ultimately represent more than individual achievement. Their selection highlights a broader reality for luxury: savoir-faire survives through active transmission, investment, and opportunity. With Bulgari joining this edition, the Maestri d’Eccellenza Award positions craftsmanship not simply as a link to the past, but as infrastructure for the industry’s future.