Ten designers have made it to the finals of the International Woolmark Prize. The finalists have been selected from over 300 applicants, from 47 countries. They represent diversity in the global fashion industry and show promise in their commitment to innovative practices. The global final will be held in February 2020.
Among the finalists is UK’s Samuel Ross who launched A-Cold-Wall in the fall of 2015. Having studied graphic design and illustration, Ross creates handcrafted graphic garments that have a stark urbanity. South Korea’s Shin Kyu Yong and Ji Sun Park have been selected for creating Blindness, known for its gender-less, bold silhouettes, dramatic layers and lavish embellishments of pearls and frills. Instead of shying away from heavily gendered design elements, Shin Kyu Yong and Ji Sun Park blend these elements to create collections that are playful and subversive. Feng Chen Wang is a Chinese-born men’s wear designer. Ireland’s Richard Malone has an unwavering commitment to sustainability and is strongly against the concept of mass production, often releasing collections in strictly limited numbers.
The Woolmark Prize celebrates outstanding fashion talents from around the globe who showcase the beauty and versatility of Merino wool. It was first held in 1953 as an initiative of the International Wool Secretariat.
