Merino Wool: Meet Australia's Woolmark Prize Finalists For 2016

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May 6th, 2015
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9:00 AM

The search is on again for the next International Woolmark Prize winner. Showcasing the best in Australian Merino wool, 12 designers have been shortlisted as the Australian finalists for 2015-2016. Separated into women's and men's wear, one winner from each will go on to compete against their respective finalists from the U.S,, Asia, the British Isles and the Middle East. Meet Australia's best design newcomers in wool.

Ashkar LineTristan Melle and Jamie Ashkar are the design pair behind Ashkar Line. Meeting in 2013, the duo merged their respective brands to create a women's wear label with a masculine edge. Using high-quality fabrics and lux finishes, asymmetrical lines often dominate with a sport's matte edge - all produced in Australia.Bianca SpenderLaunching in 2009, Bianca Spender is known for a mixed structure and fluidity. For a relaxed sophistication, a key style of the designer's is draping a garment from one piece of cloth. With references ranging from art to music to historical dress, shapes are extremely feminine and confident with accents of bold color. She presents in Sydney for Australian fashion week.Celeste TesorieroCeleste Tesoriero and her namesake label are big on sustainability and the use of organic fabrics and production. Based on romance and nature, Tesoriero's aesthetic is raw with a focus on the finer details and classic Japanese tailoring for women. East-meets-West, guy-meets-girl is what this casual lux designer does best.Elissa McGowanSydney's Elissa McGowan offers an artistic and fluid aesthetic, refined by her interest in fabrics and textile development. Recognized for her exploration of surface techniques, custom fabric are exclusive sourced in conjunction with European textile mills. McGowan's signature laser cutting, painterly digital prints and a soft, feminine color palette are her go-to leitmotifs.From BrittenLaunched in 2010, From Britten is a men's label from brothers Alexander and Tim Britten-Finschi. Using the fundamentals of tailoring, From Brittan take design, construction and fabrication to a lifestyle level. The Melbourne brand is intent on details in garments, too. From Brittan was selected by Vogue Italia as one of six upcoming designers around the globe to showcase at On Stage.HanBrisbane-based men's wear Han - which in Cambodian means 'golden child' - offers a theme of minimalist architectural design crossed with classical construction. Founded in 2012 by Khim Hang, the designer pairs down pieces with thoughtful precision and subtle perfection. Structural silhouettes boss about sleek tailoring. Han was named in the top five most successful brand models of 2013 for Monocle Magazine’s Style Directory.Haryono SetiadiSydney-based fashion designer Haryono Setiadi is a precision tailor for women, giving back innovative fabric treatments that are inventive and ahead of the industry. The designer debuted Australia’s first 3D printed collection in FW 2011, which led to winning the 2011 Chambord Shine Awards and the DHL Fashion Export Scholarship in 2012.P.JohnsonRaised on a merino sheep farm in Adelaide, designer Patrick Johnson has wool fabrication in his blood. Johnson trained in London, before teaming up with Tom Riley, to make P.Johnson. The sartorial collection channels the Italian man and his innate respect for dressing. The brand is sporty, comfortable and feels very Australian with Euro-elegance stitched into each piece.Rebecca VallanceRebecca Vallance and her namesake label is structurally tailored and manufactured in luxurious fabric. One of Australia's biggest exports, she has set herself up in New York, showing on-schedule at New York Fashion Week in 2014. See her pieces on the limbs of Halle Berry, Sofia Vergara, Coco Rocha and more style icons.