International Woolmark Prize U.S. Finalists and Winner Announcement

As I write, judges across the globe are deliberating on the regional winners of the International Woolmark Prize, a competition so extensive it is divided into six localities: Asia; Australia and New Zealand; British Isles; Europe; India and Pakistan; U.S.A. Nominating bodies here at home include Vogue and the C.F.D.A. and past winners have been Public School and Gabriela Hearst. This year’s judging panel includes André Leon Talley, formerly of Vogue, Stefano Tonchi of W Magazine, designer Thom Browne and Laura Brown, editor-in-chief of InStyle. In the words of the Woolmark Company, the “prestigious award connects the decision-makers of the future with today’s leaders in retail and trade to ensure the inspiring and ongoing use of wool.” Woolmark’s strong focus on emerging talent goes back to 1954 when a 21-year-old Karl Lagerfeld and an 18-year-old Yves Saint Laurent both won the then-named International Wool Secretariat award.