The winners of the USA regionals for this year’s International
Woolmark Prize have been announced: Tanya Taylor for womenswear and Siki
Im for menswear. Other nominees included Chris Gelinas, Kaelen, Nellie
Partow, and Novis for womenswear, and Cadet, David Hart, Lucio Castro,
and Thaddeus O’Neil for menswear.
“I can’t believe this; I have never won an award in my life,” Taylor told Style.com right after last night’s ceremony at Milk Studios. “And my husband has a ton of trophies from when he played hockey, and now I finally have one to compete with him. And this one is a pretty good trophy to have.”
Not only did Taylor and Im take home trophies—they also won $50,000 cash prizes, which both designers plan to put straight into wool and knitwear R&D. Taylor mentioned how this award will help her company keep knitwear production New York-based. “It can be cheaper to produce elsewhere, even places like Europe, but it’s the best to just hop on a train and go check on the stitches, the quality, and control all here in New York,” she said.
The Woolmark Prize differs from other fashion competitions in that it demands each designer present looks made from at least 80 percent wool, and the highest scores go to those designers who use wool in innovative ways. Im was intrigued by wool’s molecular structure and how that translates to body-heat conduction for year-round use, as well as anti-bacterial properties to combat body odor. “What really got the judges was how much Siki marches to the beat of his own drum,” said Woolmark’s director of the Americas, Michelle Lee.
Lee added that Taylor’s exploration of color—which weights of wool can handle which saturation, in which hues—was what sealed her position as victor. “Everyone thinks wool is dark, scratchy, heavy, only for winter,” Lee joked. “But you can do anything with wool, especially wear it all-year-round. This prize is about countering those perceptions.”
Psst…did you hear? This fall, all of the fashion, trend, and beauty coverage you love—plus so much more—will move to a new home at Voguerunway.com.
“I can’t believe this; I have never won an award in my life,” Taylor told Style.com right after last night’s ceremony at Milk Studios. “And my husband has a ton of trophies from when he played hockey, and now I finally have one to compete with him. And this one is a pretty good trophy to have.”
Not only did Taylor and Im take home trophies—they also won $50,000 cash prizes, which both designers plan to put straight into wool and knitwear R&D. Taylor mentioned how this award will help her company keep knitwear production New York-based. “It can be cheaper to produce elsewhere, even places like Europe, but it’s the best to just hop on a train and go check on the stitches, the quality, and control all here in New York,” she said.
The Woolmark Prize differs from other fashion competitions in that it demands each designer present looks made from at least 80 percent wool, and the highest scores go to those designers who use wool in innovative ways. Im was intrigued by wool’s molecular structure and how that translates to body-heat conduction for year-round use, as well as anti-bacterial properties to combat body odor. “What really got the judges was how much Siki marches to the beat of his own drum,” said Woolmark’s director of the Americas, Michelle Lee.
Lee added that Taylor’s exploration of color—which weights of wool can handle which saturation, in which hues—was what sealed her position as victor. “Everyone thinks wool is dark, scratchy, heavy, only for winter,” Lee joked. “But you can do anything with wool, especially wear it all-year-round. This prize is about countering those perceptions.”
Psst…did you hear? This fall, all of the fashion, trend, and beauty coverage you love—plus so much more—will move to a new home at Voguerunway.com.
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