Matty Bovan is the winner of the 2021 International Woolmark Prize and the Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation, selected by a judging panel, including among the others, Carine Roitfeld, Ib Kamara, Shaway Yeh, Sinéad Burke, Tasha Liu, Tim Blanks and Julie Davies, during a special virtual event.

The British designer, who presented his first show at London Fashion Week in 2018, is the second designer to win both awards in the same year, after Edward Crutchley in 2019, who took home both the International Woolmark Prize men’s wear category as well as the Innovation award.

Bovan will receive 200,000 dollars as the winner of the Woolmark competition and 100,000 dollars for the Karl Lagerfeld award.

“It’s a huge honour to win these prizes and I’m so excited for where it’s going to take me,” said Bovan. “I was already so thrilled with the Woolmark Prize platform and experience.  Being a part of the International Woolmark Prize has really helped elevate my brand and elevate my awareness and knowledge of how I operate as a business and as a label. It’s been amazing and I have loved every minute of it.”

Bovan was chosen from six finalists (Bethany Williams, Casablanca, Kenneth Ize, Lecavalier and Thebe Magugu), who had the task of using Australian merino wool to create their collections through a less-is-more approach. The designer was praised for his technically advanced stunning jacquard weave designs, unique style, intricate designs which tell a story, advanced knitting and weaving techniques, strong colour combinations and sustainable production, working with local suppliers and manufacturers based in York, supporting local businesses, craftspeople and artisans. For his IWP collection Bovan used cloth roll ends from British mill AW Hainsworth, screen printing and hand painting, giving new life to discarded pieces of fabric. Limited runs in-house turned deadstock fabric into commercial limited pieces

“He is pure fashion, he makes me dream and he reminds me of a young Vivienne Westwood or a John Galliano and we desperately need that sort of designer in the fashion world of today,” said Carine Roitfeld.

“The way you used wool didn't seem like much of a challenge, you were able to do so much with the medium. So, thank you for the huge inspiration and the life that you put in your collection,” said Browne.

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Photo: 2021 International Woolmark Prize winner Matty Bovan. Courtesy