Friday 16 October 2015

INTERNATIONAL WOOLMARK PRIZE MENSWEAR FINAL TO BE HELD AT PITTI UOMO 89, ON JANUARY 2016






Italian style will entwine with the finest Australian fibre when the International Woolmark Prizemenswear final takes place as part of Pitti Immagine Uomo in Florence.

Munsoo Kwon from South Korea, Agi & Sam from the British Isles, Jonathan Christopher from the Netherlands, America's Siki Im, P.Johnson from Australia and India's Suketdhir will compete for the prestigious award to be announced during Italy's premier menswear showcase.

The six finalists will present Merino wool collections in the historical Villa Favard, the headquarters of Florence's renowned Polimoda - International Institute of Fashion Design and Business, during Pitti Uomo, the world's most important trade platform for men's clothing and accessory collections. 

Against the breathtaking beauty and historical traditions of one of the world's oldest and most stylish cities when it comes to menswear, the designers will present contemporary collections showcasing the infinite potential of Australian Merino wool.

An illustrious panel of leading global designers and industry heavyweights will judge the award, which celebrates design excellence using Australia's preeminent natural fibre.

First held in 1953 as a womenswear initiative of the International Wool Secretariat, the award was won by Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent in 1954. The prize was revived four years ago to promote a new constellation of fashion stars working with Australian Merino wool, and a menswear category was introduced in 2014.

Following the inaugural menswear International Woolmark Prize held in London last year during London Collections Men, in 2016 the award will shift to Florence during Pitti Uomo, which has long been synonymous with sartorial splendour.

"Research, young talent and an international reach are the distinctive DNA traits of Pitti Immagine and Pitti Uomo," said Raffaello Napoleone, CEO of Pitti Immagine. "The history of our relationship with Woolmark is long and positive, and it was natural to join forces on this project. This important collaboration for the International Woolmark Prize for menswear is yet another confirmation of Pitti Uomo's leading position in men's fashions and its irreplaceable role as a platform for research, promotion and launching young designers. It is also a special acknowledgement of Florence, a city that hosts institutions such as Polimoda which has attained one of the highest places in the global ranking of international fashion schools." 

"Taking the International Woolmark Prize to Florence as part of the Pitti Uomo men's fair, the traditional home of menswear, made a lot of sense," explained Stuart McCullough, Managing Director of The Woolmark Company

"The Woolmark Company has enjoyed a long association with Pitti Immagine reinforced through an integral connection with the Italian manufacturers; both will be celebrated on this occasion."

The six finalists for the 2016 menswear categories were selected during six regional finals in Asia, Australia, America, the British Isles, Europe and India, Pakistan and the Middle East.


The overall winner of the menswear category will receive $AU100,000 and have their collection stocked in the world's leading fashion stores including Matchesfashion.com, Harvey Nichols in Britain, Italy and China's 10 Corso Como, Saks Fifth Avenue in the US, Joyce in Hong Kong, Isetan Mitsukoshi in Japan and David Jones in Australia.

Finalist biographies:

Agi & Sam - British Isles
With a strong emphasis on bespoke textiles and humour, Agi & Sam believe that fashion should never be taken too seriously. Agi Mdumulla studied fashion design at Manchester School of Art while Sam Cotton studied Illustration at the University of Lincoln. They first met in 2008 whilst interning for Alexander McQueen before going on to work for other brands such as Karl Lagerfeld and J.W. Anderson. After becoming frustrated with the then dismal economic climate and the lack of jobs, they decided to launch their debut collection in September 2010 at London Fashion Week.

Jonathan Christopher - Europe
Jonathan Christopher (Hofwegen) Celestial Risher graduated from the Willem de Kooning academy in 2009 then pursued his master's degree at the prestigious Dutch fashion school ArteZ Institute for the Arts. In 2011 he was selected by Marc Jacobs to be one of the five finalists for the young talent award Designer for Tomorrow and two years later was anointed the the Henri Winkelman Young Creative Entrepreneur in 2013.

Munsoo Kwon - Asia
Launched in 2011, Munsoo Kwon steers clear of the saturated traditional menswear market in favour of designs based on modern silhouettes that are practical, yet maintain a distinctive appeal. Kwon's aesthetic is faithful to proportions and carefully designed for an impeccable fit, while incorporating unique detailing. Instead of overt branding, Munsoo Kwon employs its signature split-open details on the back and special pockets on shirts to create a coherent brand representation.

P.Johnson - Australia
Born and raised on a Merino sheep station north of Adelaide, South Australia, Patrick Johnson trained in London with a view to a better dressed (yet not over-dressed) man.
Partnering with his best friend Tom Riley, the duo established P.Johnson, which combines their passion for Italy and its inherent respect for dressing, with a passion for the 'sweet life'. P.Johnson is sartorial yet sporty, louche and comfortable, practical but fresh, everything Australian, everything relevant and everything elegant. It's sartorial with a distinctly coastal influence. It's about moving forward, looking better, feeling good and not taking it too seriously.

Suketdhir - India, Pakistan & Middle East
Suket Dhir founded his eponymous label in 2009 and trained at the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi. Dhir's aesthetic is best described as Indo-centric western menswear, achieved through a synergy of regional artisanal techniques with western silhouettes and cuts in exquisite indigenous fabrics. Adherence to the 'Less is More' philosophy lends garments a classic air, which is further highlighted through subtle detailing and a hint of quirk.

Siki Im - America
Exploring the boundaries of institutional and conventional fashion and craftsmanship, German-born Siki Im strives to re-evaluate the existing landscape of high-end menswear. The brand is indeed an exercise of exploration of traditional tailoring.
Born in Cologne, Siki Im moved to the UK to study architecture. After working as an architect in various cities around the world, he began his fashion career in New York where he was a senior designer for both Karl Lagerfeld and Helmut Lang before creating his first solo collection in 2009.
Hand-tailored, artisanal suits are the hallmark of the brand that employs the highest levels of craftsmanship and quality fabrics to create the modern and refined aesthetic that is the label's signature.



For more information on the International Woolmark Prize go to www.woolmarkprize.com 

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