LONDON, United Kingdom — Today, as part of its global media partnership with The Woolmark Company, BoF can reveal the 12 regional winners of the 2015/16 International Woolmark Prize, who will go onto compete for the overall menswear and womenswear prizes.

Selected from the 70 global nominees that were announced in April, today's announcement marks the culmination of six different regional competitions: Asia, Australia, the British Isles, Europe, India, Pakistan and the Middle East, and the United States. Nominees were assessed on a complete look made of Merino wool and six conceptual design sketches.

The regional competitions' judging panels were drawn from high profile industry members and representatives of official bodies, such as the CFDA and the BFC. Globally, these included designers Thom Browne, Francisco Costa, Walter Van Beirendonck, John Varvatos and Roland Mouret; editors Ariel Foxman, Stefano Tonchi, Dylan Jones and Edwina McCann, stylist Sophia Neophitou; and many other notable figures.

"As a first-time judge for the International Woolmark Prize, I was fascinated by all the new technology and treatments explored by the designers," remarked designer Thom Browne. "Many designs left a strong impression on us, and knowing that these designers had to do it all on their own, from sourcing and developing the fabric to the final manufacture and presentation, it is certainly no easy feat."

The winners of each regional competition were awarded AU$50,000 ($37,110) and the opportunity to represent their geographic region in the prestigious international finals, previously won by Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent. During the next six months, the 12 regional winners will develop capsule collections, made in Merino wool, in preparation for the international finals. The menswear final will take place during Pitti Uomo in Florence in January 2016, and the womenswear final will be held during fashion week in New York, the following month.

The overall menswear and womenswear winners of the IWP will be awarded an additional AU$100,000 (US$74,210) and the opportunity to stock their capsule collections in a variety of key international retailers, including Harvey Nichols in London, 10 Corso Como in Milan, Beijing and Shanghai, Joyce Boutique in China, Saks Fifth Avenue in the US, Boutique 1 in the UAE, David Jones in Australia and online retailers Mytheresa.com and Matchesfashion.com.

Regional Winners of the 2015/16 International Woolmark Prize

Australia
Menswear: P. Johnson
Womenswear: Bianca Spender

Asia
Menswear: Munsoo Kwon
Womenswear: J Koo

British Isles
Menswear: Agi & Sam
Womenswear: Teatum Jones

Europe
Menswear: Jonathan Christopher
Womenswear: Nanna Van Blaaderen

India, Pakistan and the Middle East
Menswear: Suketdhir
Womenswear: Taller Marmo

USA
Menswear: SIKI IM
Womenswear: Tanya Taylor

This post is sponsored by the International Woolmark Prize.