Indian designers Antar-Agni and Bodice are the menswear and womenswear winners, respectively, of the 2017/18 International Woolmark Prize (IWP) Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East regional final, as announced at an awards event held at the Five Palm Jumeirah Dubai. Both winners will compete in the prestigious international final.

Chosen from amongst the most promising fashion design talents from Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East, the winners gain a financial contribution of AU$70,000. In addition, each winner will receive mentoring support from a global panel of experts along with being granted a Woolmark license.

For the next six-to-seven months, the winning designers will be required to develop a capsule collection in merino wool, to be showcased at an extraordinary event that will highlight the six menswear finalists and six womenswear finalists selected from across the globe.

“I am truly honoured to win this award because it gives Bodice the opportunity for real global expansion and provides the funding to allow me to create an incredible collection,” explained Bodice’s Ruchika Sachdeva.

The winners of the menswear and womenswear global finals will receive a further AU$200,000 to assist with fabric sourcing and marketing of their collection, as well as mentoring from industry experts. A third winner will also be selected at the global final as part of the newly introduced Innovation Award.

– Apparel and Textile News, Apparel Talk, Indian Apparel