Congratulations are in order for M. Patmos and Public School! Last night the designers won the International Woolmark Prize USA Regional Awards for womenswear and menswear, respectively. The awards recognize the best in emerging, talented designers, and their wins put them in good company. Previous designers who took home a trophy include Joseph Altuzarra (last year’s winner), Karl Lagerfeld, and Yves Saint Laurent (who won the award at age 18).
The competition featured 10 emerging designers who all submitted sketches of a six-piece capsule collection featuring outfits comprised of merino wool with one fully produced look (below, on models). The competitive field also included Jonathan Simkhai, Nonoo, Rosie Assoulin, Whit, Antonio Azzuolo, Ovadia & Sons, Timo Weiland, and Todd Snyder, and winners were announced at a ceremony at Milk Studios Penthouse in New York City.
M. Patmos and Public School wowed the panel of judges—which included Alexander Wang (above, with the winners), InStyle Editor Ariel Foxman, and Council of Fashion Designers of America President Steven Kolb—with their skillful and fashion-forward creations. This marked the first time that there was one overall winner for womenwear and one overall winner for menswear. Both M. Patmos and Public School will have the chance to showcase their collections at Saks Fifth Avenue, and the two labels will go on to compete with finalists from across the world at the international competition next year.
Want more fashion? See the most memorable moments from fall 2014 Couture Fashion Week in Paris in the gallery!