MATTY Bovan has been announced as the winner of the 2021 International Woolmark Prize and the Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation. The Central Saint Martins graduate was judged against five other burgeoning designers by a panel of fashion giants, comprising Carine Roitfeld, Ib Kamara, Tim Blanks, Sinéad Burke, and Thom Browne.
International Woolmark Prize Matty Bovan
The International Woolmark Prize theme this year was Less is More, challenging each designer with the task of creating a collection that focused on sustainable practices, while also incorporating and highlighting the beauty of Australian Merino wool.
International Woolmark Prize Matty Bovan
Bovan was drawn to the process of trauma recovery in his collection entitled Ode to the Sea, integrating touches of travelling and escapism in the designs. Bovan enlisted the use of suppliers and manufacturers in his native land of York, aiding local businesses and artisans in his supply chain.
Utilising end-of-roll fabrics from Yorkshire manufacturer AW Hainsworth, Bovan animated his textiles through hand and screenprinting.
Matty Bovan’s winning Woolmark Prize collection
Matty Bovan’s winning Woolmark Prize collection
Bovan proved he is a formidable face of fashion, constructing architectural silhouettes that meander around the body, along with fusing intasrsia knits with acid colours for the eyes to feast on. His efforts were anointed by Carine Roitfeld, who said, “He is pure fashion. He makes me dream and he reminds me of a young Vivienne Westwood or a John Galliano and we desperately need that sort of designer in the fashion world of today.”
Matty Bovan’s winning Woolmark Prize collection
Speaking of his double win, Bovan commented, “it’s a huge honour to win these prizes and I’m so excited for where it’s going to take me – I was already so thrilled with the Woolmark Prize platform and experience.
“Being a part of the International Woolmark Prize has really helped elevate my brand and elevate my awareness and knowledge of how I operate as a business and as a label. It’s been amazing and I have loved every minute of it.”
by Sophia Ford-Palmer