WGSN unveils nominees for its 2016 WGSN Futures Awards

WGSN, the global trend authority, has unveiled the shortlist for its WGSN Futures Awards 2016, which recognise innovation and excellence in fashion design, retail and digital on a global scale. Big names such as Matchesfashion.com, Mr Porter and Farfetch are among those to make the cut, along with emerging talent including Craig Green, Isa Arfen and Molly Goddard.

The Awards will take place in London on the evening of 26 May and will be judged by a line-up of industry experts including Storm Models founder Sarah Doukas, Jigsaw chief executive Peter Ruis, Sweaty Betty co-founder Tamara Hill Norton and Saks Fifth Avenue vice president & fashion director Eric Jennings.

Categories include breakthrough designers, best store, best marketing initiative and best digital innovation with a shortlist drawn from designers and brands from the US, UK, France, Denmark, Germany, Canada, Russia, South Korea and China among others.

The ceremony, which is attended by nominees, judges, style leaders and celebrities, takes place after WGSN's two-day future trends summit WGSN Futures at which global experts will debate and discuss how technology will drive a more successful and sustainable industry, under the theme The Vision 2030.

The full awards shortlist is as follows:

Avery Dennison Emerging Brand

Ilse Jara

Verena Schepperheyn

Holland Street

Mimi Wade

Best Digital Innovation

Scotch & Soda X Air BnB

& Other Stories

The Real Real

JW Anderson X Grindr

Topshop - LFW in Colour, powered by Pinterest

Best E-store

Net-à-Porter

Farfetch

Mr. Porter

Stitchfix

Best Marketing Initiative

Lane Bryant #ImNoAngel

Diesel - Tinder and Grindr campaign

Dove - Curly Hair Emojis

Kate Spade #MissAdventure

Best Multichannel Business

Matchesfashion.com

Browns

River Island

John Lewis

Best New Retail Concept

The Dandy Lab (London, UK)

The Store - Alex Eagle X Soho House Berlin (Berlin, Germany)

Cuffs (Hong Kong, China)

COS X Snarkitecture pop-up (Los Angeles, USA)

Best Start-up

Needle and Thread

Allerton Swimwear

Lily Kamper

Shore Projects

Hill and Friends

Best Store

RYU Apparel (Vancouver, Canada)

Topshop (London, UK)

Primark (Madrid, Spain)

Gentle Monster (Busan, South Korea)

Innovative Design

Sweaty Betty

The Unseen

Rebecca Minkoff

Thinx

Sustainable Design

Timberland - From the Road to the Closet

Reformation

Levi’s

People Tree

Breakthrough Footwear and Accessories Designer

Manu Atelier

Richard Braqo

Bionda Castana

Cubitts

Breakthrough Menswear Designer

Baartmans and Siegel

Craig Green

Abasi Rosborough

Astrid Andersen

Breakthrough Womenswear Designer

Isa Arfen

Danielle Romeril

Cecilie Jørgensen (Cecilie Copenhagen)

Molly Goddard

Tickets for the event are by invitation only but for the first time WGSN has released a limited number for sale at £500 each. For more information visit: wgsnfuturesawards.com