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Exclusive: Taller Marmo’s International Woolmark Prize Capsule Revealed

The Dubai Design and Fashion Council (DDFC) served as an official supporter of the International Woolmark Prize’s India, Pakistan, and Middle East regional finals held in Dubai in July 2015, from which Taller Marmo emerged as the finalist in the womenswear category. Reflecting on the substantial reach of the prize, DDFC CEO Nez Gebreel highlighted to Style.com/Arabia, “The International Woolmark Company created a tremendous platform to support designers, and open doors not only in their respective local markets, but also across the globe.” And while this weekend’s competition finals saw the International Woolmark Prize ultimately go to Teatum Jones, the magnitude of having a Dubai-based fashion house represented in the finals is lost on no one, “We are very proud to have Taller Marmo represent the region on an international stage and showcase the wealth of talent that Dubai has to offer,” added Gebreel.

The design duo, Yago Goicoechea and Riccardo Audisio, resume their brand’s DNA as “craftsmanship, fantasy, and culture.” The Woolmark Prize capsule collection, showcased in full in the gallery above, is inspired by “Cleopatra—the most iconic woman in the Arab world,” explained Goicoechea. The pair looked to translate how Cleopatra is interpreted by the world today and created a collection rife with rich fabrics—particularly a blend of Merino wool and Lurex—which resulted in an ultra-light fabric that resembled raw silk; and wild prints. It’s a collection intended to help push the preconceived notion that wool is a cold-weather yarn and could in fact be a thread of choice for nights out on the dancefloor.

In conversation with the duo in New York City, and following their mentoring session with Colin McDowell, the Taller Marmo designers revealed that they have also launched a new project. The website www.slowfashionfast.org features a series of short videos that highlight the scrupulous work of under-the-radar craftsmen and women—from hardware to textile design—and goes inside the respective ateliers to discover each story and celebrate a dedication to quality that the Dubai-based brand reveres.

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