Copenhagen-Based Designer Topples UK entries
UK design duo Agi & Sam narrowly missed out on a win at the European heats for the International Woolmark Prize this week.
The top spot went to Copenhagen-based designer Asger Juel Larsen, who will move on to the final where he will face off against four other menswear designers from Australia, America, Asia, India and the Middle East.
Larsen beat nine other names to be honored in the first dedicated men’s category of the prize’s history.
To win the regional semifinal competition, designers were tasked with creating a look made from Merino Wool to show to a panel at the Shangri-La Hotel in Paris.
One judge, director of menswear at Hermes, Veronique Nichanian, said Larsen’s delivery was “very structured and well articulated”.
“His research on fabrics and textures was elaborate and accomplished,” she added.
The decision to crown the London College of Fashion graduate’s oversized cream coat was unanimous according to reports.
Other judges on the men’s board included James Leaford, Fashion Editor of GQ France; Sarah Andleman, Creative Director of Colette; and Tim Blanks, Editor-at-Large of Style.com.
“Winning the prize of 50,000 AUD (£27,000) will be really good to secure production and liquidity; all the things you need to run a company when you are in the beginning phase,” Larsen told WWD.
Larsen must now design a capsule collection in Merino wool to be showcased during London Collections: Men in January 2015.
Success in the final round would see the designer walk away with an additional 100,000 AUD (£54,000) along with the opportunity to be stocked in retailers such as Harvey Nichols in London, Colette in Paris and 10 Corso Como in Milan.
Asger Juel Larsen AW14 Collection
