Dyne has been announced the inaugural winner of the 2017/2018 International Woolmark Prize Innovation Award, presented at a special event during Pitti Uomo at Stazione Leopolda in Florence.

The Innovation Award powered by Future Tech Lab celebrates the collection with the most innovative and creative wool fabrication, process or development and was awarded to the finalist who demonstrated the most exciting approach to help reduce its social and environmental footprint. Dyne will receive US$ 100,000 along with commercial opportunities.

“For me he was definitely the leader in innovation,” said Miroslava Duma. “The NFC chips he embedded in his collection, and the fabrication of the snowboard gear really stood out. He really thinks about technology every step of the way.”

Technical snowboarding wardrobe

Inspired by learning to snowboard in the 1980s – in a wool bomber jacket – the collection of Dyne’s Christopher Bevans comprised a technical snowboarding wardrobe, complete with an NFC chip in the water-resistant wool jacket to track users in avalanches and ultimately bridge the gap between the brand and the consumer. Dyne describes itself as liminal, its garments designed to operate on both sides of every threshold, and to break the existing barriers of fabric, fit and function.

The collection, crafted from Merino wool ranging between 17 and 19.5 microns, includes zip-up hoodies, track pants, trench coats and pullovers, and has been treated so as to be water-repellent, and includes reflective overlays and inserts, functional pocket zips, laser-cut details and, in certain instances, two-way stretch.

“It’s an honour,” said Dyne designer Christopher Bevans. “We pushed so hard and to be recognised for this is incredible. It doesn’t get more special.”

Fierce competition

The award was judged by a highly esteemed panel, led by Future Tech Lab founder/CEO Miroslava Duma and included Amber Valletta, Elizabeth Von Guttman, Emanuele Farneti, Julie Davies, Livia Firth, Miroslava Duma, Nonita Kalra, Phillip Lim, Riccardo Vannetti, Sarah Mower and Stuart McCullough along with representatives from the International Woolmark Prize retail partner network.

The event also saw menswear winner Matthew Miller and womenswear winner Bodice awarded for their wool-rich collections. “Today we saw the world’s best emerging designers present a true celebration of fashion design and innovation, as they shone the spotlight on Australian Merino wool,” said The Woolmark Company Managing Director Stuart McCullough.

“Each year, the competition has been fierce, and this year was no different. I would also like to commend the mills and spinners who supplied the labels with luxury fabrics and yarns and assisted in the development of innovative fabrications.”

Global finalists

More than 65 designers from more than 60 countries were nominated for this year’s award, with finalists representing six different regions around the world. The global finalists were SixLee and KYE (Asia), Blair Archibald and Harman Grubiša (Australia & New Zealand), Matthew Miller and Le Kilt (British Isles), L'Homme Rouge and David Laport (Europe), Antar-Agni and Bodice (Indian Subcontinent and Middle East) and DYNE and Zaid Affas (USA).

The Woolmark Company has the support of Fondazione Pitti Discovery and Pitti Uomo, TONI&GUY, makeup by MAC, ORDRE and Future Tech Lab for the 2017/18 International Woolmark Prize global final.

www.woolmarkprize.com