Lagos Space Program from Nigeria and A. Roeve Hove from Denmark are the winners of the International Woolmark Prize 2023 and the Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation, respectively, during the final step of the initiative held in Paris’ Petit Palais.
The winners will receive prizes of €130,000 and €65,000, respectively, as well as continued support from the industry and Woolmark Prize retail partners.
Byborre also celebrated after being honored as the winner of the Supply Chain Award.
A panel of experts, including Alessandro Sartori, Carine Roitfeld, Caroline de Maigret, Caroline de Maigret, Elizabeth von der Goltz, Francesco Risso, John Roberts, Pieter Mulier, Salehe Bembury, Shaway Yeh, Sinéad Burke, Tim Blanks, and Tyler Mitchell, selected the winners.
"What's special about the Woolmark Prize is that it is the only fashion prize that celebrates fiber, materials and nature–the animals, the soil, and all the farmers in the supply chain," added Shaway Yeh. "It celebrates human creativity along with nature's creativity," he explained.
The return of the prize to Paris for this edition pays homage to the origins of the initiative, which more than 70 years ago brought great couturiers such as Valentino Garavani, Karl Lagerfeld, and Yves Saint Laurent to success, with a jury consisting of personalities including Christian Dior and Hubert de Givenchy.
The International Woolmark Prize 2023 focused on the theme of dialogue, a key element of the creative process and central to The Woolmark Company's mission to connect emerging design talent with industry stakeholders to collectively envision a more sustainable future.
This prize also fosters dialogue between the supply chain and the more than 60,000 Australian wool farmers who passionately produce this extraordinary fiber.
"Karl Lagerfeld was a prime example of this, and more recently, Gabriela Hearst-who won the Woolmark Prize here in Paris in 2017-continues to be a wonderful champion of fiber. We are proud of the collaborative relationships developed as part of the program, which connect designers with the supply chain by breaking down barriers," Roberts added, explaining that this year's finalists will now continue their journey in the IWP, joining a prestigious class of more than 400 and will be presented with business opportunities through the association's Retail Partner Network.
Lagos Space Program has been awarded the International Woolmark Prize 2023. The brand originates from the conceptual design of its founder, Adeju Thompson.
"I really liked the brand's so important story and what they are bringing to light in their community in Nigeria. They are beautifully made and look like something you could buy in the most luxurious stores in the world," said Elizabeth von der Goltz, a member of the jury.
Byborre received the Supply Chain Award 2023. This textile innovation studio is based in Amsterdam and works on developing materials, discovering new functionalities and aesthetics for engineered knitting.
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