The Dutch designer Duran Lantink is the winner of the International Woolmark Prize 2025. Pieter Mulier, creative director of Alaïa, and Südwolle Group have won the Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation and the Supply Chain Award respectively. The prize -giving ceremony was in Milan on Wednesday evening, in the Palazzo del Ghiaccio.
The winner of the International Woolmark Prize 2025 receives 300,000 Australian dollars (170,000 euros) to invest in the development of his company, in addition to support from the industry and retail partners of the Woolmark Prize.
Eight international design talents competed to shape the future of fashion through innovation and sustainability: next to the winner ACT N ° 1 (Italy), these were Diotima (US), Ester Manas (Belgium), Lgn Louis Gabriel Nachi (France), Luar (VS), Merylle Rogge)…
Pieter Mulier, creative director of Alaïa, wins the Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation
Pieter Mulier is the first winner of the Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation in the new form. He was selected for his innovative approach and the use of merino wool. The dedication of the creative director of Alaïa to innovation and craftsmanship was illustrated with the Alaïa Summer/Autumn 2024 “One Yarn” collection. The entire collection was made with a single merino wool yarn, developed in one year in close collaboration with the textile and knitting suppliers of the fashion house. Mulier challenged the team to constantly reinvent the yarn, and to transform it, not only in classic fabrics and knits, but also in unexpected textures, including merino wool with a fur effect, thick chenille, delicate organza and technical fabric fabrics for outerwear. “Every possible variation was investigated, whereby the boundaries of innovation were pushed and the versatility of merino wool was demonstrated,” the organizers of the prize emphasized.
For more than 70 years, the International Woolmark Prize has been celebrating the beauty and versatility of merino wool and is evolving to offer finalists the tools needed to promote sustainable growth through innovation and industrial mentoring in all business areas.
The jury was chaired by Donatella Versace, no longer creative director of Versace since 1 April, but Chief Brand Ambassador of the brand that was founded by her brother, Gianni Versace. Among the jury members who judged the work of the talents, IB Kamara, guest artistic director of the IWP 2025, Alessandro Sartori, artistic director of Zegna, Sinéad Burke, teacher, activist and founder of Tilting The Lens, and Alessandro Dell’acqua, founder and creative director of N21.
Südwolle Group wins the Supply Chain Award 2025
The Supply Chain Award was awarded to Südwolle Group “for their continuous commitment to innovation and product development, responding to the needs of customers and supporting the wool industry,” said the organizers. “We are honored and proud; this prize confirms that our holistic and collaborative approach to the Supply Chain is recognized and appreciated,” said Stéphane Thouvay, Chief Sales Officer of Südwolle Group. “As Ambassadors of Wool, we actively promote this extraordinary fiber through our global network of yarn production and the strong partnerships with producers, brands and designers in different sectors,” the manager added
