NEW ENGLAND WOOL GROWERS GIVE A LEG UP TO YOUNG FASHION DESIGNERS
Entries open today for the Fleece to Fashion Awards 2023 encouraging the fashion design community to experiment with wool to create show stopping garments.
This year, the Award prize pool offers cash prizes and some outstanding money-can’t buy experiences for young and developing designers studying at secondary school or at a tertiary institution.
These opportunities include:
· An all-expenses paid Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) Industry Immersion in Italy (A-mazing!) awarded to the Supreme winner
· A bespoke three-month mentorship with legendary designer Akira Isogawa, handpicked by Akira as part of the judging process
· Oakholme Encouragement Award offering 3 x $1,000 cash prizes for students showing outstanding promise, selected by the judges
Fleece to Fashion Chairman and Armidale wool grower Lachlan Fulloon says:
“We want to keep wool at the top of the fashion industry’s list of favoured fibres. We are thrilled to offer these amazing opportunities to student designers that not only provide a fantastic career benefit to them but also an introduction to the world of wool, it’s versatility and useability across a broad range of clothing applications.
Connecting the next generation of designers with the New England wool growing community fosters deep appreciation for how farming and fashion can work together to showcase this remarkable fibre and keep it on the world’s catwalks.”
Additionally, designers at all levels of their careers are invited to enter fine, fun and fabulous designs for all occasions, and see their garments on the catwalk and assessed by a high-profile judging panel.
With the support of the New England wool growers and local businesses, the open categories carry a healthy $10,000 cash prize pool, as designers from across Australia are encouraged to compete for cash first prizes in designated categories.
Open Award categories include:
· Special occasion
· Athleisure & performance wear
· Wearable Art
· Global cultures
· Wool Re-imagined (recycled materials)
· Wedding
· Special awards: Most Marketable, Innovation in Wool, Encouragement
Designers are encouraged to be adventurous, experimental and artistic in creating designer garments to catch the judges’ eye. The judging panel includes design luminaries such as Jonathon Ward and Akira Isogawa as well fashion doyenne Melissa Hoyer.
Running for over 40 years, Fleece to Fashion brings together the farming and fashion communities to celebrate wool. Once again, the historic Deeargee Wool Shed will light up to host the gala presentation dinner and brunch preview later in the year.
For more details on the Awards and supporting events, please visit https://fleecetofashion.com.au/
Fleece to Fashion is generously supported by:
· Gold Sponsor: Australian Wool Innovation (AWI)
· Silver sponsor: ACHMEA Farm Insurance
And a raft of local businesses and wool growers including Roberts & Morrow, Regional Australia Bank, Invest Blue, Winterbourne Pastoral, Virbac, Cressbrook Merinos, Bredal Austraila, JM Stephen, Australian Wool Network (AWN), Impact Ag, Rydges Hotels, MJ Bale, Deeargee and the Sutherland family.
