Nigerian non-binary fashion label Lagos Space Programme has won the 2023 International Woolmark Prize.
Copenhagen knitwear label A. Roege Hove has secured the Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation.
The theme for this year's awards, which were presented at a special ceremony in Paris, was Dialogue.
Both brands will each receive AU$200,000 and AU$100,000 respectively, as well as ongoing support from the industry and Woolmark Prize retail partners.
Woolmark managing director John Roberts said the designers joined an acclaimed list of previous winners.
“Ultimately, the International Woolmark Prize celebrates Australian Merino wool, with today's winners and finalists imbued with a life-long love for the fibre.
“Karl Lagerfeld is a prime example, and more recently, Gabriela Hearst - who won the Woolmark Prize here in Paris in 2017 - continues to be a wonderful champion of the fibre.
"We're proud of the nurturing relationships developed as part of the program, connecting designer with the supply chain and breaking down barriers.
"This year’s finalists will now continue their IWP journey, joining a prestigious alumni of more than 400 and will be presented with commercial opportunities via our Retail Partner Network.”
Founded by Adeju Thompson, Lagos Space Programme offers high end ready-to-wear collections.
“This is a life-changing opportunity,” Thompson said. “It means that things will be easier for me; coming from Nigeria there’s no support. To have recognition from The Woolmark Company – wow, I’m so speechless and I’m looking forward to the future.”
A. Roege Hove is a conceptual knitwear brand with its designs created each season by founder Amalie Røge Hove.
“We’ve been talking about how we want to invest in innovation and new things in the studio,” Hove said. “Some of these things were out of reach but something like this makes it really possible. It really means everything.”
An industry panel of judges including Alessandro Sartori, Carine Roitfeld, Caroline de Maigret, Elizabeth von der Goltz, Francesco Risso, John Roberts, Pieter Mulier, Salehe Bembury, Shaway Yeh, Sinéad Burke, Tim Blanks, and Tyler Mitchell selected the winners.
“Supporting the next generation is always a good idea,” Maigret said. “Supporting them into creating for the better – not only for innovation but also for sustainability.”