JUDGES ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2015/16 INTERNATIONAL WOOLMARK PRIZE MENSWEAR FINAL

by Stephen Garner Dec 18, 2015

20151017-IWP-mens-Judges-Montage_558_v2The judges have been revealed for the menswear final of the 2015/16 International Woolmark Prize which will take place on January 13 in Florence during Pitti Uomo. The event will be marked by a special runway presentation of the six finalists’ capsule collections in Merino wool. The finalists – Munsoo Kwon (Asia), P. Johnson (Australia), Agi & Sam (British Isles), Jonathan Christopher (Europe), Suketdhir (India, Pakistan & Middle East) and Siki Im (USA) – will present their work to an esteemed judging panel of international industry figures, including:

  • Franca Sozzani, editor-in-chief, Vogue and L’Uomo Vogue
  • Haider Ackermann, designer
  • Imran Amed, founder and editor-in-chief, The Business of Fashion
  • Suzy Menkes, international editor, Vogue
  • Nick Sullivan, fashion director, Esquire
  • Masafumi Suzuki, editor-in-chief, GQ Japan
  • Linda Loppa, Director of Strategy and Vision, Polimoda
  • Raffaello Napoleone, CEO, Pitti Immagine
  • Stuart McCullough, managing director, The Woolmark Company.

In addition, representatives from the International Woolmark Prize’s retail partners will also serve on the judging panel, including MatchesFashion.com style director, Simon Chilvers, and David Jones’ general manager of menswear, Deborah Foreman.

“Although menswear has always been a secure and traditional market for wool,” said Stuart McCullough, managing director of The Woolmark Company. “The entrants in the International Woolmark Prize continue to surprise and inspire with their creative approach to wool in menswear, highlighting the fiber’s adaptability and suitability for modern interpretation.”

Chosen from more than 70 nominees, the menswear finalists for the 2016 prize represent the regions of Asia; Australia; the British Isles; Europe; India, Pakistan and the Middle East; and the United States of America. The winner of the International Woolmark Prize will receive AU$100,000 (approximately US$72,000) to help support the development of their business and ongoing industry mentor support, as well as the presentation and sale of their capsule collection in some of the world’s most prestigious department stores and boutiques. These include MatchesFashion.com (online), Isetan Mitsukoshi (Japan), David Jones (Australia) and 10 Corso Como (Milan).