The Winners with their creations  L: The Emperor 1688 R:  Bird on a Wire
The Winners with their creations L: The Emperor 1688 R: Bird on a Wire

The regional finals for the International Woolmark Prize were held this Thursday at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai. The event was conducted over a sit down dinner where 10 designers from India and the Middle east presented their designs to the audience followed by the announcement of the regional winners The Emperor 1688 of UAE and Bird on a Wire of Lebanon. You can read more about the event here.

But before the guests arrived, the contestants spend the entire day with having their designs carefully scrutinized by the jury panel which included industry professionals like  Imran Amed (The Business of Fashion), Anthony Kendal (mytheresa.com), Peter Ackroyd (The Woolmark Company), Priyanka Khanna (Vogue India) and last year’s Woolmark Prize winner Rahul Mishra. Take a look at some exclusive images from the jury panel.

Designeres present their designs to Imran Amed, Priyanka Khanna and Anthony Kendal
Designeres present their designs to Imran Amed, Priyanka Khanna and Anthony Kendal
Rahul Mishra inspects a garment by Bird on a Wire with Imran Amed and Peter Ackroyd
Rahul Mishra gets close with the winning garment by Bird on a Wire with Imran Amed and Peter Ackroyd
Rebublic, Pakistan
Rebublic, Pakistan
The judges inspect a creation by Khaadi Khaas of Pakistan
The judges inspect a creation by Khaadi Khaas of Pakistan
Khadi Khaas, Pakistan
Khadi Khaas, Pakistan

The International Woolmark Prize  is an invitation only competition where promising designers who are yet to be ‘established’ are selected through a nominating body in their respective regions. The FDCI nominated three designers to represent India at the regionals Zubair Kirmani and Gaurav Jai Gupta of Akaaro for womenswear and Barkha ‘n’ Sonzal for menswear.

Barkha 'n' Sonzal, India
Barkha ‘n’ Sonzal, India
Zubair Kirmani, India
Zubair Kirmani, India
Akaaro, India
Akaaro, India
Imran Amed scrutinizes in detail
Imran Amed scrutinizes in detail
Lara Khoury, Lebanon
Lara Khoury, Lebanon
Sania Maskatiya, Pakistan
Sania Maskatiya, Pakistan
House of Fatam, UAE
House of Fatam, UAE

Find out more about the International Woolmark Prize here.