history-making
Woolmark announce a new award in tribute to Karl Lagerfeld
German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld after winning the coats category in a design competition sponsored by the International Wool Secretariat, Paris, 14th December 1954. With him is a model wearing his design. The competition win led to Lagerfeld being hired as assistant to Pierre Balmain. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Top image: Karl Lagerfeld being presented with the International Woolmark Prize in 1954 / photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Image
This year’s International Woolmark Prize is a bit special. Following the sad passing of Karl Lagerfeld early last year, the heritage brand have announced a brand new Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation. In honour of the renowned designer who won the inaugural Woolmark Prize back in 1954, this new accolade will be presented to a finalist who “showcases outstanding creativity and innovation; characteristics which led to Lagerfeld’s history-making success.”
Taking place during London Fashion Week on 17th February 2020, the prize will be presented by Carine Roitfeld, editor-in-chief, CR Book. “What an honour to be the first person to award the Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation,” says Roitfeld. “Karl was always looking for new talent – a rare, encouraging force, instrumental in the development of many young designers. In today’s global fashion business, discovering, nurturing, and providing a platform of recognition for innovating creatives is absolutely crucial.”
Design student from Hamburg Karl Lagerfeld, only sixteen years old (twenty-one following other sources), with a model presenting a cocktail coat. Lagerfeld won the competition of the International Woll Secretariat in the section of coats in 1954. | usage worldwide (Photo by dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Now in its eighth year, Woolmark has also revealed its judging panel for this year’s prestigious International Woolmark Prize, which includes Dior Men artistic director Kim Jones, educator Sinead Burke and editors Tim Blanks and Edward Enninful, amongst others. This year’s finalists are: A-Cold-Wall*, Blindness, Bode, Botter, Feng Chen Wang, GmbH, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Matthew Adams Dolans, Namacheko and Richard Malone.
“The International Woolmark Prize is an institution for the fashion industry, and I am thrilled to participate,” says Kim Jones. “The competition shines a light on diversity and innovation and I’m very happy to be a part of that.”
The International Woolmark Prize will be presented during LFW on 17th February.