The jury for the International Woolmark Prize 2025 is out

The fashion award season is approaching, and among the first to return is one of the most renowned ceremonies, the fashion awards, the International Woolmark Prize. This year, the format has changed, shifting from an annual to a biennial schedule. The 2025 edition will take place on April 2 in Milan, bringing together eight of the most promising international design talents, each tasked with creating a six-look capsule collection in Merino wool. Presiding over this year's jury will be Donatella Versace, who, after stepping down as the creative director of the Maison to take on the role of Chief Brand Ambassador, continues to keep a keen eye on the industry. “Supporting the next generation of fashion talents has never been more important,” said Versace, emphasizing the prize’s commitment to shaping the future of fashion. She will be joined by a jury of key industry figures: IB Kamara, Guest Artistic Director of IWP 2025 and Art & Image Director of Off-White; Law Roach, globally renowned image architect; Alessandro Sartori, Artistic Director of Zegna; Tim Blanks, Editor-at-Large of Business of Fashion; Sinéad Burke, activist and founder of Tilting the Lens; Honey Dijon, DJ and producer; Alessandro Dell’Acqua, founder and Creative Director of N21; Simone Marchetti, European Editorial Director of Vanity Fair; Roopal Patel, SVP and Fashion Director at Saks Fifth Avenue; and Danielle Goldberg, celebrity stylist and brand consultant.

The finalists of this edition include designers who—especially in this FW25 season—have increasingly moved beyond the sphere of emerging talents. From different parts of the world, the selection features: ACT N°1 (Italy), Diotima (USA), Duran Lantink (Netherlands), Ester Manas (Belgium), LGN Louis Gabriel Nouchi (France), LUAR (USA), Meryll Rogge (Belgium), and Standing Ground (UK/Ireland). Each brand has received 60,000 Australian dollars to develop its collection, which must showcase the material's versatility and sustainability. The winner will receive a cash prize of 300,000 Australian dollars (approximately 195,000 USD), marking a 50% increase compared to previous editions. Additionally, thanks to the International Woolmark Prize Retailer Network, all finalists will have the opportunity to be stocked at leading global retailers. Completing the competition are two special awards: the Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation, which, for the first time, can be awarded to any brand or individual in the fashion industry for their contribution to Merino wool innovation, and the Supply Chain Award, dedicated to recognizing a figure in the supply chain who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to sustainability.

The International Woolmark Prize, established in the 1950s, is among the most prestigious awards in the global fashion industry. Considered one of the “Big 3” alongside the LVMH Prize and the ANDAM Award, it has historically focused on celebrating the potential of Merino wool. Over the years, it has helped launch major fashion figures such as Karl Lagerfeld, Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, and Ralph Lauren. Since its relaunch in 2012, the International Woolmark Prize has expanded its focus to include sustainability and technological innovation, providing participants with not just visibility but also essential resources to grow their brands. A key example is Gabriela Hearst, who won in 2017 and leveraged the prize to strengthen her brand before becoming Creative Director of Chloé from 2021 to 2023. Another standout feature of the Woolmark Prize is its ability to discover and support emerging talents worldwide. In 2023, for instance, the award was given to the Nigerian label Lagos Space Programme and the Danish brand A.ROEGE HOVE, reinforcing the competition’s commitment to celebrating cultural and geographic diversity in contemporary fashion design.