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Worlwide: Global finalists International Woolmark Prize 2012Prize given
published : August 01 2012
category : highlights
Sophie Theallet (USA), Pankaj and Nidhi (India), Christian Wijnants (Belgium), Dion Lee (Australia) and Ban Xiao Xiu (China), represent the line-up for the final round of the International Woolmark Prize to be held in London in February 2013.
The Woolmark Company has re-launched the International Woolmark Prize to help promote outstanding design talent from across the world, and through their innovative use of the fibre, inspire and educate consumers on the natural beauty of Merino wool.More than 70 nominees were initially selected by various fashion industry nominating bodies from across the globe, each vying for a position as the finalist who will represent their region in the awards to be held in London in February 2013.
USA: Sophie Theallet
At 18, Sophie moved to Paris to attend the fashion design school Studio Berçot. She graduated early after winning France’s “National Young Design Award”. She was then hired by Jean-Paul Gaultier. A few years later, she moved on to Azzedine Alaïa. During she was the Alaïa’s right hand womand. After she moved to New York City and then, in 2007, she launched her own label. In 2009, she won the coveted CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award.
INDIA: Pankal & NidhiThey launched their fashion label in 2006 and have been honoured with the Elle Style Award for best debutant designer in 2008 and the Elle Style Award for best women's pret-aporter in 2009. In 2010 the couple also won first prize at the International Fashion Award at the World Apparel Convention in Hong Kong.
EUROPE: Christian Wijnants
After graduating in 2000 from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, he went on to win the Grand Prix at Festival de Hyères in France. Following this he started selling his collections in-store at Colette in Paris, Pineal Eye in London, Via Bus Stop in Tokyo and Henri Bendel in New York. After working as creative assistant for Dries Van Noten in Antwerp and Angelo Tarlazzi in Paris, he launched his own brand in 2003.
AUSTRALIA: Dion Lee
He launched his first collection in 2008 straight out of design school. For a couple of seasons, he has shunned the Sydney Fashion week arena for London fashion week.
CHINA: Ban Xiao Xue
He did a static exhibition held by Pont Alexandre III Fashion Club in Paris in 2007. While designing for Chinese fashion brand Exception, Ban Xiao Xue was invited to show at London Fashion week in 2012 in the "Shan Shui" Fashion Design show.
The international winner will have his/her designs stocked by leading global retailers including Bergdorf Goodman USA, Harvey Nichols UK, 10 Corso Como Italy, Joyce China, {Eickoff Germany and David Jones Australia.
About International Woolmark Prize
The Australian wool industry has supported multiple designer programs dating back to the International Wool Secretariat (IWS) design award of the 1950s which aided in the establishment of two relatively unknown designers at the time in Paris - Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld. More recently, in 2007, the Protégé program aligned some of the world’s most established and respected designers such as Karl Lagerfeld and Donatella Versace with young protégés of their choice, the purpose being to foster emerging talent.
Among the international jury
Alber Elbaz (Maison Lanvin), Alexandra Shulman (Vogue UK),
Giles Deacon, Narciso Rodriguez, Angelica Cheung (Vogue Chine), les artistes Xiang Jing et Ning Lau, Richard Nichol…
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