A New Era Of Creative Aficionados: The Woolmark Prize Finalists

The Woolmark Company announces the eight finalists of the design competition who will join the ranks of fashion’s most prominent industry titans.

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  • Courtesy of Catherine Veltman (Australian Wool)

Spotlighting the next generation of creative connoisseurs, eight of the world’s most promising designers emerge as finalists for the  2023 International Woolmark Prize – the world’s original and most prestigious fashion awards and talent development program. For this year’s theme of Dialogue, the creative process moonlights as a letter to and for the next generation of designers. Indicative of the Woolmark Company’s mission to connect and establish dialogue among leading design talent with industry heavyweights, the theme collectively envisions a more sustainable future. This year’s International Woolmark Prize finalists join an impressive alumni network including Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino Garavani, Gabriela Hearst, Rahul Mishra, BODE, Matty Bovan and, most recently, Saul Nash.

The 2023 International Woolmark Prize Finalists:

Roege Hove, Denmark 

Bluemarble, France

Lagos Space Programme, Nigeria

Marco Rambaldi, Italy

Maxxij, South Korea

Paolina Russo, UK

Rhude, USA

Robyn Lynch, Ireland

To establish a winner, each finalist will receive an initial AU$60,000 for the development of a Merino wool collection and will be supported by the program’s education and mentoring initiative, the Innovation Academy, which includes mentoring from industry leaders, including: Holli Rogers, Chief Brand Officer, Farfetch; Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Global Fashion Editor-at-Large, Vogue and Stylist; Sara Sozzani Maino, Scouting and Educational Initiatives Advisor Vogue Italia & International Brand Ambassador Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana; Sinéad Burke, Educator and Advocate; Shaway Yeh, Founder YehYehYeh and Group Style Editorial Director Modern Media Group; and Tim Blanks, Editor-at-Large, Business of Fashion.

The chosen finalist will be awarded the International Woolmark Prize and receive AU$200,000 to invest in the development of their design business. The Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation will be awarded to another finalist, with the winner receiving AU$100,000. Not to mention, The Woolmark Supply Chain Award will also be presented, celebrating outstanding contribution from a trade partner driving wool supply chain innovation.All finalists will have the opportunity to be stocked at some of the world’s leading stores, via the International Woolmark Prize Retailer Network.

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