Donatella Versace To Spearhead Jury of International Woolmark Prize 2025

The final of the International Woolmark Prize (IWP) is slated to take place in Milan on April 2, when eight global design talents will compete to shape the future of fashion through innovation and sustainability. One finalist will receive the central award and go home with the prize money, which this year has been raised to 300,000 Australian dollars, to invest in the development of their business.

This year’s finalists include CT N°1 (Italy), Diotima (USA), Duran Lantink (The Netherlands), Ester Manas (Belgium), LGN Louis Gabriel Nouchi (France), Luar (USA), Meryll Rogge (Belgium), and Standing Ground (UK/Ireland).

Selected from hundreds of applications, each designer will get $60,000 AUD to develop six Merino wool looks either as part of their Fall/Winter 2025 collection or as a standalone project. “All finalists will have the privilege to be distributed in the most prestigious stores in the world, thanks to the Internationbal Woolmark prize retailer network,” reads a statement.

The International Woolmark Prize is among the highest honors in fashion, previously won by the likes of Saul Nash, Karl Lagerfeld, Matty Bovan, Rahul Mishra, Gabriela Hearst, Yves Saint Laurent, and Valentino Garavani, among others.

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The jury will be spearheaded by Donatella Versace, Versace chief brand ambassador since April 1. The talents’ works will be evaluated by, among others, Ib Kamara, IWP 2025 guest artistic director; Alessandro Sartori, artistic director of Zegna; Sinead Burke, educator, advocate and founder of Tilting the Lens; and Alessandro Dell’Acqua, founder and creative director of N21.

“Supporting the next generation of fashion talent has never been more important. I am thrilled to host the Woolmark Prize in our city, Milan, and to meet the shortlisted designers. I am certain that each of them will be a winner in their own way.”

“I am honored to chair the International Woolmark Prize 2025 jury alongside my amazing fellow judges. Woolmark has always been an incredible supporter of the future of fashion,” underlined Donatella Versace.

The 2025 finals mark the first edition of the IWP in its new biennial format. Two industry awards will be presented during the event; The Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation, which will be awarded to any brand individual in the fashion industry who have overcome the boundaries of innovation in the processing of Merino wool.

The second is the Supply Chain Award that recognizes a member of the supply chain who has distinguished himself for leadership and innovation in promoting sustainable practices highlighting the important role of the supply chain in the fashion and textile industry.