IWTO Announces Winners Of World Wool Award

Cairo, Egypt & Brussels, Belgium — During the 75th IWTO Annual Congress held from 9 to 12 May 2006 in Cairo (Egypt) the International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) announces the winners of the second edition of World Wool Award (WWA). Sponsored by The Woolmark Company, the award has been introduced to celebrate wool's unique natural performance properties and versatility, to encourage its future use through research and innovation into new product developments and the marketing and promotion of wool values.

Jury member Mr. Georg Steffens (The Woolmark Company) said: "The World Wool Award is an excellent platform for textile students around the globe to show and communicate how they see the most natural fibre in the world - WOOL."

During the Awards Ceremony, held at the 75th Anniversary Gala Evening of the Congress, IWTO President Mr. Michael Lempriere and CEO of The Woolmark Company, Mrs. Brenda McGahan, presented the trophies and diplomas to the laureates. As part of the award prize, the winners were also awarded:

• Free participation in the IWTO Annual Congress held in Cairo, and
• An exhibition area at the IWTO Congress to show and promote the winner's project.
• International exposure via the IWTO website for one year, where IWTO presents details of all the awarded projects including Certificates of Merit on its website www.iwto.org.

The second edition of the World Wool Award attracted entries from around 70 projects representing more than 20 countries from all continents. Split into three categories, the competition was open internationally to students, trainees and professionals from textile/fashion universities, academies and schools, companies and institutes.

An international and professional Jury panel, including leading designers, journalists, marketing specialists and entrepreneurs, evaluated and selected the award winners and certificates of merit:

Fashion & Design
Winner: Ms. Rachel Dennis, UK, Central Saint Martins University of the Arts
Merit: Mrs. Bethany Athill, UK, Winchester School of Art
Merit: Ms. Samantha Davison, UK, Winchester School of Art
Merit: Ms. Anna-Maria Hesse, Germany, Thames Valley University
Merit: Ms. Alice Tazzioli, Italy, Polimoda International Institute of Fashion Design and Marketing

Marketing & Promotion
Merit: Ms. Jennifer Rosenthal, Ms. Julie Rosenthal & Ms. Sarah Patterson, Canada/New Zealand Whanganui UCOL-Universal College of Learning

Concept & Innovation
Merit: Ms. Marina Castan Cabrero, Spain, Escola Superior de Disseny (ESDI)
Merit: Ms. India Flint, Australia, RMIT University Melbourne

The jury members pointed out that the majority of presented works, especially in the category "Fashion & Design" was on a high professional level, but the number and quality of the Category "Marketing & Promotion" are showing that textile universities are frequently not putting enough emphasis on that topic.

The representative of the sponsor The Woolmark Company, Mr. Georg Steffens said: "The World Wool Award is an excellent platform for textile students around the globe to show and communicate how they see the most natural fibre in the world - WOOL."

SOURCE: IWTO