PRIZE money for the International Woolmark Prize winners has been doubled this year, with the overall menswear and womenswear victors set to pocket $200,000 each.
In a bid to encourage entrants to think outside the box, the competition has been expanded to include a $100,000 innovation award to celebrate ‘the most unique and creative fabric or yarn development from a finalist’.
“Due to increasing pressures on young designers, we have restructured our program spend with a greater focus on the design talent and our partners,” The Woolmark Company managing director Stuart McCullough said.
“Each year, I am truly amazed with what our finalists present to the judges. Just when you may think you’ve seen it all, along comes an exciting new fabric or innovative new yarn, and that’s why we have established the innovation award.
“It not only keeps competition fierce but it also allows for our prestigious trade partners to get global recognition and ultimately increases the market share of wool.”
Each of the 65 global nominees will receive $2000 to assist in the development of their submission piece, ahead of regional finals in Dubai, London, Milan, New York, Seoul and Sydney in July. In addition, each regional menswear and womenswear winner will this year receive $70,000 to go towards their final collection.
The menswear prize includes Australian nominees Amxander, Chris Ran Lin and Blairarchibald, while local entrants Elissa McGowan and Thomas Puttick will vie for the womenswear award.
Australian-born, Los Angeles-based artist Jonathan Zawada has created the trophies for this year’s regional and final events, each crafted from marine debris bakelite – a product created entirely from recycled plastic collected from Australian shorelines.
- Details: woolmarkprize.com