British designer Saul Nash wins 2022 International Woolmark Prize

Former dancer Saul Nash wins the top prize for his fashion-forward take on sportswear

International Woolmark Prize winners 2022: Saul Nash (second from left, with model in red), with innovation winners Mmuso Potsane (centre) and Maxwell Boko (far right, with model) of Mmusomaxwell. Picture: Lillie Eiger.

British designer Saul Nash has jeted into the winner’s circle at this year’s International Woolmark Prize.

Just four years into his menswear business, the former dancer and choreographer won for his collection of fashion-forward sportswear based on freedom of movement.

“Words cannot describe what this means to me,” Nash said following the win.

“In such a short space of time I am so grateful for what I have gained in the past eight months (of the competition).

“This really is the cherry on top for everything Woolmark has done for me.”

Nash was one of seven global finalists in this year’s competition, including Australia’s Jordan Dalah, US label Peter Do, and Ahluwahlia from the UK.

Burberry creative director Riccardo Tisci, one of the judges of the competition, commended all of the finalists, adding, “But what Saul did, coming from a ballet background to replace Lycra with wool was really incredible.”

The win includes a cash prize of AU$200,000, and ongoing support from the Woolmark Company and its network of suppliers.

The $100,000 Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation was won by South Africa’s Mmusomaxwell, by designers Mmuso Potsane and Maxwell Boko.

The designers described the win as “mind blowing”.

Fellow judge Carine Roitfeld described meeting them as “love at first sight”.

The womenswear label takes an artisanal approach to production, sourcing local materials

“They have a dream and what they are doing is not just for South Africa, but for a modern, western woman,” said Roitfeld.

The competition includes one of the world’s biggest cash prizes for emerging designers, and is backed by Australia’s Woolmark Company, to promote merino wool in the global fashion industry.

John Roberts, chief executive Australian Wool Innovation , the parent company of Woolmark, called the prize “the jewel in our crown”.

“It connects our Australian woolgrowers with the global fashion and textiles industry and in turn highlights the beauty, versatility, and modernity of Australian wool,” said Roberts, who was appointed to the role in April.

An Australian designer is yet to win a major prize in the competition, which was rebooted in its current form in 2012.

Previous winners in that timeframe have included Gabriela Hearst, Rahul Mishra and US menswear label Public School.

In 1965, its original incarnation as the International Wool Secretariat Prize, the winners included two emerging designers, Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent.