Franca Sozzani, Tim Blanks, Victoria Beckham and more to judge International Woolmark Prize

With two Middle East finalists up for the prize

Woolmark reveals its esteemed judging panel for next year’s double competition, for which the finalist have now been chosen, including Middle Eastern nominees The Emperor 1688 and Bird on a Wire

The full judging panel for the International Woolmark Prize has been revealed, with next year's competition, held in January for men and March for women. It's the first time that the prize has been split by gender.

For the boys, the winner will be announced in January, ahead of London Collections: Men, and the womenswear title will be given in Beijing in March. The overall winners of each will receive $87,000 to assist with fabric sourcing and marketing.

Sir Paul Smith; Dylan Jones, editor in chief of GQ UK; Tim Blanks, editor at large, style.com, and Nick Wooster will take the lead in judging the men's award, which is designed to recognise "excellence" using Merino wool. The men's final will be held on January 9.

When it comes to the ladies, Victoria Beckham; Angelica Cheung, editor in chief, Vogue China; Franca Sozzani, editor in chief of Vogue Italia, L'Uomo Vogue Italia and vogue.it, and editorial director of Condé Nast Italia, and Colin McDowell, fashion writer will make up the panel.

In terms of commerce support, Matchesfashion.com has signed on as the exclusive online outlet for the men's award, while MyTheresa.com will carry the winning women's designer and from August next year, Isetan, Joyce Hong Kong, Harvey Nichols, 10 Corso Como, David Jones and Saks Fifth Avenue will stock both the winning women's and men's collections.

Franca Sozzani, Tim Blanks, Victoria Beckham and more to judge International Woolmark Prize (фото 1)

The Emperor 1688

The build up to the main International Prize has meant five regional competitions being held in America, Asia, Australia, Europe and India and the Middle East to select 10 overall finalists in each category, who each received around $43,500 to support their next collection and the invitation to participate in the final.

The menswear finalists are Asger Juel Larsen (Europe); Public School (U.S.); Sise (Asia), Strateas.Carlucci (Australia), and The Emperor 1688 (India and the Middle East), and for womenswear – Augustin Teboul (Europe), Bird on a Wire (India and the Middle East), M. Patmos (U.S.), Strateas.Carlucci (Australia), and VMajor (Asia).

Franca Sozzani, Tim Blanks, Victoria Beckham and more to judge International Woolmark Prize (фото 2)