INTERNATIONAL WOOLMARK PRIZE CEREMONY

July 20, 2012
19th July, 2012 was marked on my calendar as the “special day”. The day I received the invite for the International Woolmark Prize Indian Regional Awards Announcement, I could not stop but discuss about the uniqueness of this award function.
Very few might know about Woolmark in India, but they have a very special place to hold in the global fashion industry.
International Woolmark Prize instituted by The Woolmark Company, the global authority on Merino wool. The award has always aimed to encourage and recognize a generation of young designers who work with wool – fiber and fabric. 50 years ago, this competition helped launch the careers of two fashion icons – Yves Saint Laurent & Karl Lagerfeld. Yves Saint Laurent won this award for dress design, while his fellow designer Karl Lagerfeld was the winner of the coat category as part of the Australian competition judged by a panel including Hubert de Givenchy and Pierre Balmain.
The global competition is being reintroduced this year and includes India as one of the five regions – Australia, China, Europe, US and India for the first time. The regional awards require designers to present sketches of a Merino wool capsule collection comprising of 6 outfits with one full outfit to be produced. These collections were judged by a panel of local and international experts. The India judging panel comprised some of the country’s most respected industry representatives including :

Priya Tanna – Editor Vogue India
Simon P Lock – Founder of Australian Fashion Week
Sunil Sethi – President of Fashion Design Council of India
Pradeep Hirani – CMD of Kimaya Fashion Pvt Ltd.

When I reached the venue, The Leela Palace, Delhi , all I could see was the air of panache flowing through the premises, the rich and famous clinking their wine and champagne glasses, fashion forward posing for a click, handsome men suited up, gorgeous women decked up, it was for sure a “FASHION PARADISE”


I was trying to soak up some fashionable air, when I was handed over a magazine which talks about Woolmark, the competition, the contestants and their designs.
Nitika from ShopaholicDiaries was really enjoying flipping through the pages of this magazine.
Simon P Lock, Founder of Australian Fashion Week
This man had a very charming personality. He humbly invited everyone of us to get seated in the ballroom, 
organized the show and award ceremony, and did not hesitate to pose for a click.
Pradeep Hirani, CMD – Kimaya Fashion Private Limited
Priya Tanna – Editor – in – Chief – Vogue India
She looked stunning in this one shoulder tangerine dress.
Sunil Sethi, President – Fashion Design Council of India
He is the man to soak in inspiration from. He must be grey haired, but his life is full of colors.
 I was honored to have a quick tete – e – tete with him discussing the fashion show, his favorites and woolmark. 
Never knew such a small conversation will leave me awestruck.
 I feel very proud of him representing Indian Fashion Globally.

The 3 judges ready to decide the winner of International Woolmark Prize for India.

And then came the most happening part of the event : The FASHION SHOW!!

By Designer Aneeth Arora
Youthful and Warm is what describes this outfit.

By Arjun Saluja
Long and Slender. 
Makes me feel proud being a tall girl 😉

By CellDsgn
Drape Well and Sock it up!!

By Gaurav Gupta
Bold and Edgy! 
Again makes me feel proud being a tall girl :p

By Pankaj and Nidhi
Rainbow in Fall.
Absolutely loved this flower bloom in earthy and monochrome Woolmark collection.

By Rahul Mishra
Empire State of India
This monochrome ensemble has so much going around. 
The fine texture, the fine pattern and finer craftsmanship.
The jacket shoulder is designed keeping in mind the Empire State Building of NY.
The dress drape looks to me as a tribute to the India Saree!

By Rimzim Dadu
Black just got Textured!
Love the delicate texture.

By Ritesh Kumar
Hues of Brown!
Warm and Chic is the derivation.

By Samant Chauhan
Woolmarked!
This dress is from tip to bottom “wool”
By Zubair Kirmani
Elegance at its best!
This dress is feminine, delicate, elegant and chic at the same time.
Mr. Simon announced the top 3 designers of the evening.
Hold your breaths! Simon P Lock with the Top 3 designers of the evening.
For the record, these 3 were my favorite as well :p
Diana Nelson, Deputy High Commissioner, Australian High Commission.
She announced the final winner(s) for the evening.
And the winners are : Pankaj and Nidhi.
Heartiest Congratulations to them.
They now will compete with the finalists of other international regions in London Fashion Week, February, 2013.
And then it was time to Celebrate and Party!!

 Daniele Piatto, CEO of OVS India with his wife at the event.


 Gauri, Nainika with Designer Suneet Verma.


 International Jury Panel – (L-R) Sunil Sethi, Priya Tanna, Pradeep Hirani and Simon P. Lock


Rohit Bal with the Winners Pankaj and Nidhi

And there was food.

Komal from TheDelhiFashionBlogger
Moi pic courtesy Komal
Gifts.
Woolmark magazine
Woolmark merchandize
Woolmark animal print scarf! (Waiting for winters now :p)
This event was no less than a fashion paradise for me. Magical moments, glamour  and meeting some very well known people from the fashion fraternity in person. Absolutely Amazing!