• Linkdin
Maximize your media exposure with Fibre2Fashion's single PR package  |   Know More

International Woolmark Prize announces global finalists

23 Jul '12
5 min read

In what has become one of the fashion industry’s most breakthrough events of the year, Woolmark is pleased to confirm that Sophie Theallet from the US, Christian Wijnants from Belgium, Ban Xiao Xiu from China, Dion Lee from Australia and Pankaj and Nidhi from India represent the line-up for the final round of the International Woolmark Prize to be held in London in February 2013.

The Woolmark Company have re-launched the International Woolmark Prize to help promote outstanding design talent from around the world, and through their innovative use of the fibre, inspire and educate consumers on the natural beauty of Merino wool.

Over seventy nominees were initially selected by various fashion industry nominating bodies across the globe vied for position as the finalist who will represent their region in the awards to be held in London in February 2013.

The awards were kicked off on the 9th July in the US where Sophie Theallet was selected as the winner by iconic industry figures: Steven Kolb; Narciso Rodriguez; Linda Fargo - Bergdorf Goodman; Sally Singer - Editor in Chief at T Magazine and Malcolm Carfrae - EVP of Global Communications at Calvin Klein. When asked what made Sophie stand out in the competition, Narciso Rodriguez answered, “Sophie’s unique vision, her skill and apparent craftsmanship.”

In Europe on the 12th July, Christian Wijnants was selected as the winner by iconic industry figures: Alber Elbaz - Artistic Director for Lanvin; Alexandra Schulman – Editor Vogue UK; Christiane Arp – Editor Vogue Germany; Dean & Dan Caten – DSQUARED2, Giles Deacon, and Tim Blanks – Editor at Large Style.com. Alber Elbaz said, “Christian’s work was right for the project, it was about knitwear, construction and technique”.

In China , also on the 12th July a judging panel formed by opinion leaders from the industry, Vogue China editor-in-chief Angelica Cheung, supermodel Du Juan, fashion designer Uma Wang, artist Xiang Jing and Ning Lau, representative of JOYCE as the exclusive retail partner of IWP in China, selected Ban Xiao Xue as the regional finalist. “Ban Xiau Xue won because of his innovative treatment of wool,” explained Ms Cheung.

In Australia on the 16th July, Dion Lee was recognised by a panel of experts including Edwina McCann, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Australia, Richard Nichol – Designer, Simon P Lock – Founder of Australian Fashion Week, Malcolm Carfrae – EVP of Global Communications at Calvin Klein and David Bush – General Manager Womenswear David Jones. “Dion is the ideal designer ambassador for Australia,” explained designer and judge, Richard Nichol. “I think he has a good chance of winning the overall international competition which would be a fantastic result for the perception of Australian fashion as a whole and inspiring for future generations of winners.”

Leave your Comments

Esteemed Clients

TÜYAP IHTISAS FUARLARI A.S.
Tradewind International Servicing
Thermore (Far East) Ltd.
The LYCRA Company Singapore  Pte. Ltd
Thai Trade Center
Thai Acrylic Fibre Company Limited
TEXVALLEY MARKET LIMITED
TESTEX AG, Swiss Textile Testing Institute
Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)
Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)
SUZHOU TUE HI-TECH NONWOVEN MACHINERY CO.,LTD
Stahl Holdings B.V.,
Advanced Search