LONDON, United Kingdom — Today, as part of a new global media partnership with Woolmark, BoF announces the full list of global nominees for the 2015/16 International Woolmark Prize (IWP). The IWP has a prestigious history, having awarded a 23 year-old Karl Lagerfeld and 18 year-old Yves Saint Laurent prizes in 1954, just one year after its foundation. Having re-launched in 2012, the IWP is now entering its fourth year of recognising outstanding emerging designers from around the world.

The competition's regional judging panels are drawn from high profile industry members and representatives of official nominating bodies, including the Council of Fashion Designers of America and the British Fashion Council, as well as the French, Italian and Chinese editions of Vogue.

"Through our network of nominating partners, we have uncovered the next crop of future leaders of the global fashion industry," said Stuart McCullough, Managing Director of The Woolmark Company. "The prize seeks out talent from around the globe and provides a platform for them to express their interpretation of a fairly simple brief: to create the most innovative capsule collection made from Merino wool."

For the first time, regional finalists will be selected from six, rather than five, geographies: Asia, Australia, the British Isles, Europe, India and the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. Each entrant is required to submit six sketches and one complete look, made in merino wool, to qualify for the prize. Twelve regional finalists will be selected to go onto compete for the two global prizes. Each regional finalist will receive AUD$50,000 in cash sponsorship, in addition to the opportunity to compete in the IWP menswear or womenswear final.

BoF’s founder and editor-in-chief Imran Amed will join other industry leaders on both the menswear and womenswear global judging panels, which will select the respective winners during Pitti Uomo in January 2016, and New York Fashion Week in February 2016. The overall winners will receive a total AUD$100,000 in sponsorship and have their winning collection stocked in Harvey Nichols in the UK, Joyce in China, Saks 5th Avenue in the US, 10 Corso Como in Italy, David Jones in Australia and MyTheresa.com and Matchesfashion.com.

In addition, this year, the IWP will include trade partnerships with key businesses in the wool trade, sourced from The Woolmark Company’s (IWP’s parent organisation) global network. “The additional benefit we provide to these designers is not only a cash prize, but connection into a global network which has been built over the past 50 years, with the most important weaver’s spinners and manufacturers from across the globe,” said McCullough. These trade partnerships will provide benefits ranging from discounted rates on sampling and production lengths of fabrics and yarn, assistance with the technical development of wool and the establishment of commercial relationships with  suppliers at an early stage in the designers' careers.

Nominees For the 2015/16 International Woolmark Prize

Asia

Menswear: Ffixxed Studios; Munsoo Kwon; Hui By Eran Hui; Liberum Arbitrium.

Womenswear: Taro Horiuchi; Hei Lau; Whosthat; J Koo; Jarret; Doris Q; Pinghe; Constance Tsui By Davidson Tsui.

Australia

Menswear: From Britten; Patrick Johnson; Han.

Womenswear: Haryono Setiadi; Ashkar Line; Rebecca Vallance; Elissa Mcgowan; Celeste Tesoriero; Bianca Spender.

British Isles

Menswear: Agi & Sam; Craig Green; A Sauvage; Lee Roach; Kit Neale.

Womenswear: J. Js Lee; Teatum Jones; Thomas Tait; Fyodor Golan; Phoebe English.

Europe

Menswear: Giray Sepin; Harmony; Pavel IvančIc; Armoire D’homme; Ivan Mandzukic; Etxeberria; Christian Pellizzari; Marius Petrus; Jonathan Christopher.

Womenswear: Cristaseya; Nanna Van Blaaderen; Capara; Comeforbreakfast; Juan Vidal; Bobby Kolade; Freya Dalsjø; Jindra Jansová; Asu Aksu.

India & United Arab Emirates

Menswear: Republic; Suket Dhir; Thamanyah.

Womenswear: Nachiketa Barve; Sania Maskatiya; Taller Marmo; Bleach; Misha Lakhani; Bashar Assaf; Mira Hayek; Akaaro.

United States

Menswear: Cadet; David Hart; Lucio Castro; Siki Im; Thaddeus O'neil.

Womenswear: Chris Gelinas; Kaelen; Nellie Partow; Novis; Tanya Taylor.