International Woolmark Prize India, Pakistan & Middle East award: bringing global fashion to the UAE

As the International Woolmark Prize enters its fourth year, the prestigious award, known for bringing emerging design to the world stage, heads to Dubai. The Woolmark Company together, with Vida Hotels and Resorts will host the annual Middle East, India, Pakistan Award on Wednesday July 22.

The event will shine the spotlight on the impressive growth of luxury retail in Dubai and the emergence of new designer talent from the United Arab Emirates and neighbouring countries. Eleven of the region’s most promising fashion designers have been put forward by the official nominating bodies for the Middle East, India and Pakistan: Dubai Design & Fashion Council (UAE), IMG Reliance (India), PFDC (Pakistan), and Starch Foundation (Lebanon).

Nominees will present sketches of six outfits highlighting the use of Merino wool to a panel of industry experts at the regional awards event. One full outfit from the capsule collection is to be produced. The winners will go on to the International Woolmark Prize finals held in Florence and New York in 2016.

The regional award will be judged by a panel of local and international experts including:

• Nez Gebreel, CEO, Dubai Design & Fashion Council
• Osman Yousefzada, Designer
• Bridget Cosgrave, Fashion and Buying Director, Boutique 1
• Louise Nichol, Editor-in- Chief of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia
• Melissa Grace, GM Marketing and Communications, The Woolmark Company
• Che Kurrien, Editor, GQ India
• Alison Tay, Editor-in-Chief, Grazia Middle East

India, Pakistan & Middle East nominees for the 2015/16 International Woolmark Prize are:

Womenswear:

• Akaaro, India
• Nachiket Barve, India
• Sania Maskatiya, Pakistan
• Taller Marmo, UAE
• Bleach, UAE
• Misha Lakhani, Pakistan
• Bashar Assaf, Lebanon
• Mira Hayek, Lebanon

Menswear:

• Republic, Pakistan
• Suket Dhir, India
• Thamanyah, UAE

Manzil Downtown Dubai, Vida’s renowned boutique hotel, will provide the location for the judging and regional finalist announcements, placing an audience of key industry and media attendees against a backdrop of contemporary arabesque design.