The International Woolmark Prize celebrates outstanding fashion talent from across the globe who showcase the beauty and versatility of Merino wool. With a focus on traceability and a celebration of the supply chain, the 2020 International Woolmark Prize Winner and Finalist collections are now available to shop at the below links through the program’s retailer network.
Richard Malone
Richard Malone won the 2020 International Woolmark Prize back in February, and now, in what has been an unsettled year for all facets of the fashion industry, the wait is finally over to buy the Irish fashion designer’s winning, traceable collection.
Inspired by his upbringing in Wexford to create considered, functional and beautifully made garments, Malone sets out to minimise harm to the environment and works towards creating a circular, sustainable fashion system.
The collection employs handwoven, traditional fabrics with natural dyes, from protected farms that employ regenerative initiatives to sustain both jobs and the environment.
Standout pieces of the winning collection include Malone’s blue, green and rust trousers, which are hand woven by artisanal weavers in India who use organic, plant derived and azo free dyes and the hand-knitted rib/rib pleat 100% Merino wool sweater that are dyed with organic plant dye and knitted in London.
“I believe that sustainability needs to be the norm, and that environmentally conscious garments should be no less directional or desirable than any others. In this case, one of my goals was to work exclusively with mills and weavers that encourage and implement fair trade, regenerative farming, recycling initiatives, organic dyeing and the promotion of education for understanding garment construction and adding to a garment’s life cycle. I believe this is a powerful tool in changing our buying habits, encouraging the demands we put on the clothing industry and how we wish to proceed at a time of increasing environmental awareness.” Said Malone.
Trace Richard Malone’s Woolmark Prize collection through the supply chain
SHOP THE COLLECTION:
- Browns
- Lane Crawford
- Place private orders at Richard-Malone.com
BODE
Buying a piece from BODE’s winning Woolmark Prize collection is like buying a historical piece of art. Unearthing new stories through pre-loved pieces, the International Woolmark Prize Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation winner’s capsule collection is now available to buy, proving that cool and sustainable can indeed go hand in hand.
Re-use, self-sufficiency and a commitment to preserving traditional craft lie at the heart of the BODE brand and the menswear label’s International Woolmark Prize collection. Drawing inspiration from the developmental years of artist Benjamin Bloomstein, BODE’s winning collection explores the relationship between alternative education, agricultural communities and sustainability.
Mixing deadstock fabrics found in abandoned factories, BODE beautifully marries the old with new to bring modern interpretations to traditions of the past.
“This competition completely changed the way we work with our mills and factories, not only enhancing our past relationships but connecting us to new suppliers and manufacturers for our current and future seasons.” Said Emily Bode.
Standout pieces of the winning collection - now available to buy - include overcoats and suits composed of reclaimed and remade equine show blankets, traceable and certified Merino wool jacquard knits inspired by stitch samples from a retired 1930s knitting factory, and housecoats built from hundreds of individually crocheted Merino wool fleurettes.
Trace BODE’s Woolmark Prize collection through the supply chain
SHOP THE COLLECTION:
- BODE.com
- Boon the Shop
- Browns
- MatchesFashion
- Porter
- MyTheresa
- Ssense
Woolmark Prize 2020 Finalists
BLINDNESS
Korean label Blindness draws inspiration from an issue they believe can no longer be ignored: pollution. Dubbed the plastic paradox, Blindness makes us consider the notion that plastic is eternity, yet plastic is disposable. Fishing net structures have been reimagined in wool (which we know does not contribute to microplastic pollution) in a satirical look at one of the ocean’s biggest polluters. Plastic has been eliminated wherever possible, with buttons sourced from natural resources. Working with local, skilled manufacturers and factories, Blindness was able to build a relationship with its supply chain which can then be communicated to its consumers.
Trace Blindness’s Woolmark Prize collection through the supply chain
SHOP THE COLLECTION:
- Boon the Shop
Feng Chen Wang
Chinese-born London-based designer Feng Chen Wang draws on personal life experiences and her Chinese heritage to create products that are functional but at the same time conceptual. Using traditional Chinese medicine and plant-based dyes, Feng Chen Wang shows how garments can contribute to wellbeing and mindfulness in fashion. With the help of a traditional Chinese doctor, Wang utilised maps of the meridian system, placed gemstones at pressure points to reduce stress and worked with local artisans to extract botanical dyes which were applied to deadstock untreated wool by hand.
Trace Feng Chen Wang’s Woolmark Prize collection through the supply chain
SHOP THE COLLECTION:
- Feng Chen Wang
- Boon the Shop
- Lane Crawford
- Net-A-Porter
- /017
GmbH
Storytelling lies at the heart of Berlin-based label GmbH, using the craft of garment making to explore where we come from and where we are going as a community, as a family and as humans. Exploring the versatility of Merino wool, GmbH offers everything from constructed and sculpted tailoring in felted wool, to engineered pattern cutting and elaborate canvas work. The label explores plastic-free technical outerwear such as biker pants and trench coats made from 100% Merino wool, spun so tight the fabric becomes repellent to both wind and rain and eliminates the need for chemical finishing. The swapping of wool for traditional fur in its knit dresses means that GmbH stays true to its environmentally conscious ethos.
SHOP THE COLLECTION:
- GmbH
- Net-A-Porter
Ludovic de Saint Sernin
For the 2020 International Woolmark Prize, Paris-based Ludovic de Saint Sernin presents ‘Heartbreak’, a cathartic expression inspired by experiencing a break-up of his own. A broken heart symbol appears throughout the collection, yet through break up comes both fragility and strength. We see extrafine wool semi-transparent bodies, juxtaposed with robust and comforting wool coats. The eyelet brief - which quickly became a signature of the brand - also makes an appearance, this time reimagined in wool. The Ludovic de Saint Sernin brand has become synonymous with a sexy minimalism and he wanted to bring this to the world of wool, whilst ensuring sustainability remains at the collection's core.
Trace Ludovic de Saint Sernin’s Woolmark Prize collection through the supply chain
SHOP THE COLLECTION:
- Ludovic de Saint Sernin
- Ssense
- MatchesFashion
- Departamento
- H-Lorenzo
- L’insane
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