Rahul Mishra bags Woolmark prize

Designer Rahul Mishra was conferred the International Woolmark Prize for India and the Middle East for 2013-14. He won 50,000 Australian dollars (Rs 27,24,333) for an MC Escher-inspired, hand embroidered Merino wool jacket dress, which portrays the journey of the human race and the process of metamorphosis that the earth has undergone in the last century. The prize, instituted by the Woolmark Company is aimed to encourage designers to highlight wool's eco credentials.

The judges on the panel included local and international industry experts such as Peter Ackroyd, President of the International Wool Trade Organisation, Imran Amed, Founder of The Business of Fashion, designer Manish Arora and Sunil Sethi, President of the Fashion Design Council of India.

After bagging the prestigious title, Mishra will now represent India and the Middle East at the international level next year. Apart from the award funds, the winner’s designs would be stocked by major retailers such as Harvey Nichols, Saks Fifth Avenue and David Jones.

Before Mishra, Indian designers Pankaj & Nidhi were finalists in 2012-13, while Rajesh Pratap Singh has been named India's first ambassador for The Woolmark Company.