The USA nominees for the 2015/16 International Woolmark Prize were announced today, and some familiar names have made the cut. The noms for womenswear are Chris Gelinas, Kaelen, Nellie Partow, Novis, and Tanya Taylor; nominees in the menswear category are Cadet, David Hart, Lucio Castro, Siki Im, and Thaddeus O’Neil. First held in 1953, the award recognizes outstanding fashion from around the world and is now used to promote the benefits of working with Australian Merino wool with designers from 20 countries participating. Oz is home to 50 percent of the world’s merino wool.
The regional award will be held on July 21st; the nominated designers will be asked to present sketches of a Merino wool capsule collection of six outfits, and one full outfit will be produced. Judges haven’t been announced yet, but winners will compete against finalists in Shanghai, Sydney, Antwerp, Dubai, and the British Isles. In March, M.Patmos took home the prize for womenswear and Public School won for menswear in the global competition, which consisted of a cash prize as well as having their collections stocked at retailers such as Harvey Nichols in the UK and Saks Fifth Avenue in the States. The six menswear finalists will gather at an event held during PITTI UOMO, Florence in January 2016; the six womenswear finalists will meet in New York in February 2016.
