The regional judges for the India, Pakistan, and Middle East nominees have been confirmed. They include Nez Gebreel, CEO, Dubai Design & Fashion Council; Osman Yousefzada, designer; Bridget Cosgrave, Fashion and Buying Director, Boutique 1; Louise Nichol, Editor-in-Chief, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia; Melissa Grace, The Woolmark Company; Che Kurrien, Editor, GQ India; and Alison Tay, Editor-in-Chief, Grazia Middle East.
For the first time, the prestigious international prize will be held in Dubai (on July 22nd) and Manzil Downtown Dubai, Vida’s boutique hotel, will be the location for the judging and announcements of the regional finalists. The nominees will present sketches of six outfits highlighting Merino wool along with one full outfit, with the winners of the womenswear and menswear categories then heading to Florence and New York in 2016 for the International Woolmark Prize finals. The nominees—Akaaro, India; Nachiket Barve, India; Sania Maskatiya, Pakistan; Taller Marmo, UAE; Bleach, UAE; Misha Lakhani, Pakistan; Bashar Assaf, Lebanon; Mira Hayek, Lebanon; Republic, Pakistan; Suketdhir, India; and Thamanyah, UAE—have been nominated by the Dubai Design & Fashion Council (UAE), IMG Reliance (India), PFDC (Pakistan), and the Starch Foudnation (Lebanon).
