Duran Lantink Wins 2025 International Woolmark Prize

Duran Lantink has been announced as the winner of the 2025 International Woolmark Prize. The Dutch designer was handed the award by Donatella Versace, who was named this edition’s chair of judges, and Ib Kamara, the contest’s guest artistic director for 2025.

For more than 70 years, the International Woolmark Prize has celebrated the beauty and versatility of Merino wool whilst equipping finalists and winners with the tools to drive sustainable growth through innovation and industry mentorship across all areas of business. This year, a panel of judges including Donatella Versace, IB Kamara, Law Roach, Alessandro Sartori, Tim Blanks, Sinéad Burke, Honey Dijon, Alessandro Dell’Acqua, Simone Marchetti, Roopal Patel and Danielle Goldberg selected the winners of the 2025 International Woolmark Prize, celebrating excellence in working with Merino wool.

The 2025 International Woolmark Prize marks its first biennial edition, with Duran Lantink receiving AU$300,000. “We are in a moment when we need to feel better. Duran makes us feel that. His collection is a wonderful combination of respect for the fibre and a joyful sense of the future,” said Donatella Versace

Regenerative design, heritage craftsmanship and contemporary innovation converge in Duran Lantink’s International Woolmark Prize designs. Based between Amsterdam and Paris, the fashion brand is recognised for fusing pre-loved pieces, deadstock and innovative materials into unexpected reimagining. The collection expands on Duran’s previous work with Merino wool, with a playful interrogation of “bad taste”, where human and animalistic motifs collide.

Through a wool-centric lens, each design is inspired by historical Dutch knitting techniques. Meticulously hand-knitted by a team of twelve Dutch artisans, Duran’s designs revive time-honoured craftsmanship through a collaborative, community-driven process. With innovations such as 3D reconstructed knitwear, hats crafted from recycled army sweaters and uniquely designed woven check patterns, Duran’s designs are a manifesto for the future of fashion, where craftsmanship, sustainability and innovation unite to reshape wool for the future of fashion.

“I feel very honoured to receive this award and I’m just so happy because we worked so hard with so many collaborators and it’s just really great to get this recognition,” says Duran Lantink.

Recognising his visionary approach to Merino wool, Pieter Mulier has received the Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation, in its new format. As Creative Director of Alaïa, Pieter Mulier redefined the possibilities of wool with his Summer Fall 2024 One Yarn Collection entirely crafted using a single Merino wool yarn. Developed across the space of a year in close collaboration with the maison’s textile and knitwear suppliers, Mulier and his team explored variations of Merino wool to prove that this fibre is as versatile as it is beautiful.

“I am so honoured and happy to receive the inaugural Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation. At Alaïa, wool plays an important role in the search for innovation and modernity. In my summer fall 2024 collection, one single yarn was used as a full concept, pushing how the richness of wool can be translated in all shapes, sizes, textures and forms,” say Pieter Mulier.

Südwolle Group is awarded the Supply Chain Award for its commitment to innovation, product development and dedication to supporting customers and the wool industry. The development of the Südwebs Innovation Hub as the creative voice of Südwolle Group has inspired designers, brands and manufacturers to embrace the potential of wool. The hub champions progress and collaboration with wool at the forefront.

“We feel very honoured and proud; this prize confirms that our mindset of viewing the supply chain holistically and collaboratively is seen and appreciated,” explains Südwolle Group Chief Sales Officer Stéphane Thouvay. “As ambassadors for wool we actively promote this fantastic fibre—through our global yarn production network, and our strong partnerships with manufacturers, brands and designers across diverse industries.”