Dubai, July 23 (IANS) India’s fashion designer Suket Dhir and Dubai-based womenswear label Taller Marmo were announced as the menswear and womenswear winners of the 2015-16 International Woolmark Prize India, Pakistan and the Middle East regional final.
The awards event was held on Tuesday at the Manzil Downtown Dubai here.
“I am extremely proud to have received this accolade from such a prestigious institution, particularly when taking into account all the amazing designers that have come before me. I am so grateful to The Woolmark Company for creating this wonderful platform to support designers,” Dhir said in statement.
Dhir impressed the judges with unique merino fabric developments and hand woven techniques; representing the region brilliantly while Taller Marmo showed a collection with an international perspective.
Womenswear winners Riccardo Audisio and Yago Goicoechea, behind the label, said in a joint statement: “To be honoured with such an award, from such a distinguished jury, is overwhelming. Now, we are looking towards the International Womenswear final in New York; truly excited to see what lies ahead as a result of this opportunity.”
The judging panel comprised Nez Gebreel, CEO, Dubai Design & Fashion Council, designer Osman Yousefzada, Bridget Cosgrave, fashion and buying director, Boutique 1, Louise Nichol, editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Melissa Grace, The Woolmark Company, Che Kurrien, editor, GQ India and Alison Tay, editor-in-chief, Grazia Middle East.
Chosen from amongst the 11 most promising talents in India, Pakistan and the Middle East fashion design, both winners have received a financial contribution of AED 136,112, plus the opportunity to represent India, Pakistan and the Middle East and compete in the prestigious international final.
The final for menswear will be held in Florence in January 2016, and the womenswear final will take place in New York in February next year.
For the next six to seven months, the winning designers will be required to develop a capsule collection in Merino wool, to be showcased at one of the two events that will highlight the six menswear finalists and six womenswear finalists selected from across the globe.
The finalists will compete for the International Woolmark Prize, the winners being awarded an additional AED 272,224, and the opportunity to be stocked in the most important retailers of the world, including Harvey Nichols (London), 10 Corso Como (Milan, Beijing and Shanghai), Matchesfashion.com (online), Mytheresa.com (online), Saks Fifth Avenue (NYC), Joyce (China), Boutique 1 (UAE) and David Jones (Australia).