Exclusive: Arab Fashion Council Appointed As An Official Nominating Body For The International Woolmark Prize
The AFC will be nominating Middle Eastern designers to participate in the world’s most esteemed award for rising fashion stars
Middle Eastern fashion is set to shine in the forthcoming installment of the International Woolmark Prize with the appointment of The Arab Fashion Council (AFC) as an official nominating body for the esteemed prize, and 1422, the world’s first Ready Couture Concept Store coming on board as an official partner.
“We are honored to announce the Arab Fashion Council’s appointment as an official nominating body of the prestigious International Woolmark Prize, aiming to provide the distinguished talented designers from the MENA region the possibility to be nominated for the International Woolmark Prize and entice them to expand their creative savoir-faire by selecting natural fibers such as Merino wool,” said Jacob Adrian, Founder and Chief Executive of The Arab Fashion Council.
As a result of their recent appointment, the AFC will be nominating designers for the Middle East and North Africa region to partake in the forthcoming edition of The International Woolmark Prize. Widely considered to be the world’s oldest and most prestigious prize for emerging designers, the AFC will work to put forward and encourage Middle Eastern design stars who meet the entry criteria to apply for the sought-after prize.
“The International Woolmark Prize nominating bodies remain welcome to nominate the best emerging design talent within their region,” explained The Woolmark Company Managing Director Stuart McCullough. “Yet by opening up the nomination process directly to labels which meet the criteria, we continue to expand the reach of the International Woolmark Prize and uncover the next big names of the fashion industry.”
The International Woolmark Prize’s history can be traced back to the 1930s, making it the oldest design competition of its kind in history. The competition has served to launch the careers of some of the world’s most prolific designers including Valentino Garavani, Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld. Today, the International Woolmark Prize still stands as one of the most influential platforms to nurture and develop outstanding fashion talent granting two winners a significant cash prize along with access to its expansive retail partner network to aid in the commercialisation process of their collections.
“In line with our vision to support the talented designers into expanding their business, we are committed to feature the winning designers collection at 1422 Concept Store and introduce it in the continuously growing Arab market, ” commented Mohammed Aqra, Chief Strategy Officer of The Arab Fashion Council and Buyer at 1422 Concept Store.
Images courtesy of Arab Fashion Council.