Out of hundreds of applicants, seven emerging and established designers stood out, including a Sydney-based designer who made their fashion week debut at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week in 2021.
Indeed, leading the charge is Australian and Central Saint Martins graduate Jordan Dalah, the young upstart who opened AAFW and made a lasting impact with his innovative silhouettes and flouncing designs—truly a breath of fresh air for the industry.
In response to the announcement, an excited Dalah said: “I am incredibly honoured to be selected as a finalist for this year’s Woolmark prize. I look forward to showcasing the vital role wool plays in my work”.
Joining Dalah in the list of finalists is UK based designer Ahluwalia and Vietnamese-American Peter Do. Do’s debut at New York Fashion Week in September was an industry highlight, with his mix of tradition and contemporary forms a fan favourite.
Chinese finalist RUI was also the 2021 recipient of the esteemed LVMH Karl Lagerfeld Special Jury Prize.
Now, the Woolmark Prize has announced the prestigious jury who have been meticulously curated to judge the finalists and ultimately determine the winner.
The experts, who are undeniably leaders in their respective fields, include legendary model and activist Naomi Campbell, Creative Directors for Burberry and Alaïa, Riccardo Tisci and Pieter Mulier respectively.
“The new generation influences us to make fashion more democratic, more engaged, more connected to the world,” says Mulier in a press release. “They ask for an evolution, a radical change; clothes that last, respect their bodies and the environment. I’m thrilled to be part of the International Woolmark Prize, an initiative that strongly supports innovation, creation and sustainability.”
As part of the prize’s proceedings, each finalist will receive a AU$60,000 grant for the development of a Merino collection and will be supported by the program’s education and mentoring initiative.
Each designer is also invited to present a six-look Merino wool collection for Autumn/Winter 2022 under the theme ‘Play’.
Australian Wool Innovation CEO John Roberts explains, “as the award continues to evolve, our aim is to support designers to think beyond today, highlighting the innovation, versatility and sustainability of Merino wool”.
According to the prize, the awards will be “a true celebration of forward-thinking design and innovation”. All seven finalists will “experiment with textiles, design and business practices to drive change and innovation for a brighter future”. Frankly, we can’t wait.
One finalist will take home the award and receive AU$200,000, with another selected as the 2022 recipient of Karl Largerfeld Award for Innovation. The winners will be announced during an exclusive award ceremony in London on April 26 2022. Read on below for all the finalists.
The 2022 International Woolmark Prize Finalists
- Jordan Dalah, Australia
- Ahluwalia, United Kingdom
- Egonlab, France
- Mmusomaxwell, South Africa
- Peter Do, USA
- RUI, China
- Saul Nash, United Kingdom
The 2022 International Woolmark Prize Jury
- Tim Blanks, Editor-at-Large, Business of Fashion
- Sinéad Burke,Educator, Advocate and Founder, Tilting the Lens
- Naomi Campbell-Model, Activist & Businesswoman
- Edward Enninful OBE, Editor-in-Chief, British Vogue and European Editorial Director, Vogue
- Ben Gorham, Founder & Creative Director, Byredo
- Ibrahim Kamara, Editor-in-Chief, Dazed
- Pieter Mulier, Creative Director, Alaïa
- Marc Newson, CBE-Industrial Designer
- Carine Roitfeld, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, CR Fashion Book
- Riccardo Tisci, Chief Creative Officer, Burberry
- Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski, Artistic Director, Hermès Women’s Ready-to-wear
- Shaway Yeh, Founder, yehyehyeh & Group Style Editorial Director, Modern Media Group
