The 2023 International Woolmark Prize Narrows to Eight Finalist
Eight of the world’s most promising emerging design talents have been selected from hundreds of applications for the 2023 International Woolmark Prize – one of the fashion industries most coveted and vetted talent development program.
This group of finalists represents the next generation of creative game-changers, who all want to design fashion for a better tomorrow. As the fashion and textile industry continues to evolve amongst an ever-changing landscape, we hope that our support throughout the International Woolmark Prize will inspire and propel design and business strategies of our eight finalists. I would personally like to congratulate these finalists on behalf of the Australian woolgrowers and also thank the Advisory Council for helping decide our final eight.
– John Roberts, Managing Director Woolmark
The 2023 International Woolmark Prize finalists included:
• A. Roege Hove, Denmark
• Bluemarble, France
• Lagos Space Programme, Nigeria
• Marco Rambaldi, Italy
• Maxxij, South Korea
• Paolina Russo, UK
• Rhude, USA
• Robyn Lynch, Ireland
This year’s theme – Dialogue – represents both an important element in the creative process and acts as a letter to, and for, the next generation. The theme reflects The Woolmark Company’s mission to establish dialogue and connect leading design talent with industry players to collectively envision a more sustainable future.
Each 2023 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.
