10 finalists for next International Woolmark Prize revealed

The International Woolmark Prize, an award which celebrates fashion talents working with Merino wool, has announced the 10 finalists for its 2020 edition.

Three UK-based designers have made the list, including Samuel Ross and his A-Cold-Wall brand, UK/Chinese designer Feng Chen Wang and his eponymous label, and UK/Irish designer Richard Malone.

A key new development is, for the first time, all 10 collections will be fully traceable, a big step for Woolmark’s commitment to creating transparent supply chains.

Woolmark Company managing director, Stuart McCullough, says: “The International Woolmark Prize is the world’s leading talent development program and, as industry priorities evolve, so do the expectations of the prize.

“We see traceability and supply chain integrity as a way to empower brands and customers to make better choices. By ensuring these emerging designers are equipped with the knowledge, support and access to the most advanced supply chain partners, the International Woolmark Prize continues to push the agenda for best practice.”

The 10 finalists will present six fully traceable Merino wool looks to a panel of industry experts and leading creatives. One overall winner will receive AU$200,000 and one designer will receive AU$100,000 for demonstrating outstanding innovation in product or manufacturing.

The 10 designers are now on the path towards the International Woolmark Prize final in February, with support from The Woolmark Company’s Innovation Academy - a fast-track mentoring and education program helping brands implement best practices to address environmental and social issues, along with sustainable business growth.

Finalist collections will be available for commercialisation in September 2020 via the International Woolmark Prize retail network which includes Mytheresa.com, Matchesfashion.com, Takashimaya, Lane Crawford and David Jones.

The full list of finalists:

• A-COLD-WALL*, United Kingdom
• BLINDNESS, Korea
• BODE, USA,
• BOTTER, The Netherlands
• Feng Chen Wang, United Kingdom/China
• GmbH, Germany
• Ludovic de Saint Sernin, France
• Matthew Adams Dolan, USA
• Namacheko, Sweden
• Richard Malone, Ireland/UK