The International Woolmark Prize, an award that celebrates fashion
talents working with Merino wool, has announced the six finalists for its
2021 edition.
They are: Bethany Williams and Matty Bovan from the UK, Casablanca from
France, Kenneth Ize from Nigeria, Lecavalier from Canada and Thebe Magugu
from South Africa.
Each designer was selected for showcasing “a commitment to upholding the
prize’s pillars of product excellence, innovation, supply-chain
transparency, sustainability and inclusivity”.
They are now tasked with creating and presenting a Merino wool
collection – under the theme “less is more” – which highlights transparency
throughout the supply chain with NFC technology from partner Blue Bite and
a Common Objective sustainability roadmap.
International Woolmark Prize finalists announced
One finalist will be awarded the International Woolmark Prize by a panel
of industry experts and will receive 200,000 Australian dollars to invest
in their business.
Another 100,000 Australian dollars will also be up for grabs for the
winner of The Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation, a prize launched for the
first time last year in honor of the late iconic fashion designer and
International Woolmark Prize alumnus. The winner of the prize must
demonstrate “outstanding creativity and innovation”.
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This year will also see the introduction of the Woolmark Supply Chain
Award, a new award celebrating “outstanding contribution from a trade
partner to drive awareness for wool supply chain innovation”. All finalists
will have the opportunity to be stocked in some of the world’s leading
stores, via the International Woolmark Prize Retailer Network.
The finalists this year were narrowed down from more than 380 applicants
from 55 countries by the awards’ advisory council, which includes members
such as model and businesswoman Naomi Campbell, Browns CEO Holli Rogers and
Eco Age founder Livia Firth.
“It is my pleasure to support the International Woolmark Prize. Now more
so than ever, in these incredibly challenging times for our industry, we
must continue to support and nurture the emerging voices in fashion
design,” Campbell said in a statement.
“They are the future, and I look forward to seeing what creative and
innovative work comes out of this year’s entries to push our industry’s
ongoing mission in diversity and sustainability.”
Photo credit: The International Woolmark Prize