Nachiket Barve, Bounipun win regional Woolmark Prize

It’s an honour for Indian designers Nachiket Barve, Zubair and Renni Kirmani. The three have been selected to represent the India-Pakistan-Middle East region at the annual International Woolmark Prize. Barve and his eponymous label, along with Bounipun by designers Zubair and Renni Kirmani will represent the region at one of the fashion industry’s most coveted honours. Mumbai-based Barve will compete in the women’s wear category while Kashmir-born Bounipun will compete in menswear.

Both the designers had received 50,000 Australian dollars (Rs 2,526,508) to help them create a capsule collection in Merino wool which would be showcased at the international competitions where they will compete with other finalists from around the world. The final for menswear will be held during London Collections Men and the women’s wear final will be held in Paris, both in January 2017.

For the winners it will be a bonanza as each global winner will receive a further 100,000 Australian dollars (Rs 5,053,017) to assist with fabric sourcing and marketing of their collection as well as mentoring from industry experts. Also, both international winners will get the opportunity to have their collection distributed through the prize’s international retail partner network including Harvey Nichols in the UK, David Jones in Australia, Boutique 1 in the UAE, Verso in Belgium, Leclaireur in Paris, Boon the Shop in South Korea, The Papilion in Indonesia and online through mytheresa.com and Matchesfashion.com.

This year’s nominee included Emirati designer Khulood Thani and her label Bint Thani, Faiza Bougessa and her Dubai-based label Bouguessa and Lebanese designer Bashar Assaf. The second nomination was won by Babak, Haman and Farhan Golkar, the three brothers behind Dubai label Emperor 1688.

International Woolmark Prize was founded in 1950 and its past winners include Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent.