Ffixxed Wins International Woolmark Prize in Asia

Hong Kong-based Fixxed, a contemporary fashion brand founded by Kain Picken and Fion Lau, received some great news last week. The designer duo beat out nine brands across the Asia region while competing for the regional International Woolmark Prize (IWP). Founded in 1954, the IWP is an internationally recognized achievement for designers with former winners including the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent.

The competition, which took place at W Hotel, requires designers to create a collection of wool garments that exhibits both imagination and business savvy. “Not only was their use of wool very modern, they created a very fashion-forward capsule collection,” says Bartley Ingram, head of art and visual at Joyce Boutique. “And their business sense and explanation of the commerciality of their garment really put them in the lead.”

Ingram was among a high-profile panel of judges at the Asia IWP, which also included Angelica Cheung, the editor-in-chief of Vogue China; Simon Lock, CEO of The Lock Group; Christian Wijnants, last year’s IWP international winner; and Kevin Carrigan, Calvin Klein’s global creative director.

Not only will Fixxed take home AUS$50,000, but the brand also has the opportunity to join other regional winners—UK-based Sibling, Joseph Altruzarra from the US, Australia’s Christopher Esber and Rahul Mishra from India—to compete for the international IWP award in Milan in February 2014. Each designer has till then to create an innovative six-piece Merino wool collection.

The grand prize? The winner will receive the prestigious IWP award, AUS$100,000, as well as see his or her collection stocked by leading international retailers, such as Harvey Nichols, Saks Fifth Avenue, Joyce and My Theresa.