Fashion
The 2021 International Woolmark Prize Will Focus on Sustainability and Supply Chain Innovations—Meet the Six Finalists Here
Over the next few months, the designers will create sustainable, traceable collections using Australian merino wool, and each has their own take on what “sustainability” means….


In Nigeria, Ize is dedicated to keeping the Aso Oke weaving tradition alive, and has built workshops that employ and support weavers and their families. “Social impact is of utmost importance to us,” he says. “Our hope is to create opportunities and resources that build our weaving communities. We believe it is our duty to invest into our local artisans to ensure we sustain the longevity of this beautiful ancient craft for generations to come.”
In South Africa, Magugu is similarly passionate about local production. “I’m from a place that grapples deeply with socio-political issues and where unemployment stood at a staggering 30% [rate] before COVID-19. So keeping production local is how I can contribute to that in my own capacity,” he says. “This also leads me into areas like upcycling, because I am trying to utilize the resources I have in a local capacity, doubly preserving ideas of craft and handwork local artisans have been doing for years.”
Williams is known for her inventive upcycling, but also spoke of the need to break free from the traditional fashion system and drive real change: “My practice reflects the concepts of positive critique and alternative systems, looking toward designers providing their own system to evoke change within a community, rather than using those that are already established…. [and] creating a new business model that gives back to charitable and social causes and supports local craftsmanship.”
Nearly every designer spoke of creating less, too, which reflects the theme of this year’s competition, “Less is more.” Matty Bovan uses everything from vintage Fiorucci samples to deadstock denim to create his small-batch, limited-edition collections, but says the IWP will strengthen his knowledge of traceability and sourcing. “Exploring fabrics and yarns from different mills and factories has been interesting, and as merino is such a versatile fibre, it’s been really exciting [to work with],” he says. “Traceability has always been very important to me, and I have always found it key to understanding who we work with and where they are in the world. I try to work with artisans with hand skills, and I myself try to make and treat a lot of textiles in-house. I like the touch of the hand on everything that comes under Matty Bovan.”
Marie-Eve Lecavalier, the founder of Lecavalier in Canada, also hopes to gain a better understanding of traceability through Woolmark. “I hope to learn that from a small to big scale, sustainability and traceability will be feasible and crucial within the fashion industry,” she says. “Woolmark has been able to grow and strengthen clear values and principles around their sourcing process. This is a great example for the rest of the industry to follow… I aim to get to this level of transparency through everything I do.”
Next spring, one finalist will be awarded with the grand prize of $200,000 AUD to invest in their business, and another will receive the Karl Lagerfeld Award for Innovation and $100,000 AUD. There will also be a third, brand-new award in 2021: the Supply Chain Award “celebrating outstanding contribution from a trade partner to drive awareness for wool supply chain innovation.” The finalists will also have the opportunity to stock their collections in IWP retail partners, including MatchesFashion.com, Sense, Browns, and Net-a-Porter.
News
Nike Zoom Hyperflight “Safari” Official Images Reveal Bold Print Ahead of Holiday Release
The Nike Zoom Hyperflight is getting a bold new look, with the “Safari” colorway coming soon. We have official photos of the unique design for a closer look. The sneaker sports bright orange accents and a translucent outsold, and is expected to arrive during the holiday season at a retail price of $190.
The new version is inspired by the Safari print that is familiar from the Air Safari. That pattern covers most of the Hyperflight’s soft, molded upper, giving the basketball shoe a unique look compared with some of the model’s other recent colorways. Together, the unusual texture and pattern make the silhouette feel especially suited to the adventurous design.
The primary contrast across the shoe is orange, used in the trim and other details. The bright color pops against the speckled base without being overwhelming. Black is also present in the design, on the glossy support structure around the midfoot and the soft leather collar. The look is topped off with a see-through outsole that adds another visual element to the overall color scheme.
The sneaker will drop with style code IZ2573-010 and is expected in men’s sizing. With a retail price tag of $190, Nike, Foot Locker, and Sheikh are among the expected retailers. As for when you can expect it, it’s likely to be the holiday season, though we don’t have a solid release date.
The “Safari” colorway comes amid a busy period for the Zoom Hyperflight. This year, Nike has revived the model in several colors, bringing a new wave of attention to the silhouette through a series of releases. Another forthcoming option is the vibrant “Green Apple” pair, also scheduled for a holiday season release.
The Hyperflight’s history also provides context for the latest return. Jason Williams wore the model in the early 2000s, linking it to a memorable era for the sneaker. That association also helps explain why new colorways can generate excitement beyond the shoe’s look, especially for those who remember it from its previous run.
The Safari design is a definitive statement that does not change the characteristic shape of the Hyperflight. Instead, it uses the familiar silhouette as a canvas for a pattern that has already become recognizable through another Nike model. The orange accents provide a bright contrast, while the black midfoot structure and collar balance it out.
Now that official images have surfaced, sneaker fans have a clearer idea of what to expect from the holiday release. The $190 price, style code, and expected retail partners have also been identified, but a specific launch date has not been confirmed.
For Nike, the “Safari” is another way to bring attention back to the Zoom Hyperflight. One of its more distinctive new looks is this returning model, featuring speckled print, orange trim, black support details, and an icy-looking translucent outsole.
News
Lil Yachty Previews Another Nike Air Force 1 Mid, This Time With Blue and Orange Stitching
Lil Yachty has added another eye-catching design to his ever-growing collection of Nike US Force 1 Mids, this time going for a cleaner white look accented by blue and orange stitching. The rapper’s latest take on the shoe keeps the familiar silhouette. Still, it uses contrasting details to give the shoe its own identity, something the artist is known for, showing off a steady run of variations on the silhouette.
Dubbed the “White Contrast Stitch,” the pair features white leather across most of the upper. Rather than altering the classic Air Force 1 Mid profile or incorporating a strange material, the design uses stitching to separate the design visually. Blue stitching embellishes the leather panels, and each side of the shoe’s Swoosh is lined with orange.
The combo adds a subtle but noticeable splash of color to the mostly white sneaker. It’s a more muted take than some of the more adventurous pairs Yachty has shown recently, so this version feels like the more no-nonsense option in his growing collection.
The new design adds to the long list of Air Force 1 Mid looks associated with the rapper this year. Earlier previews have featured a stars-and-stripes pair, an orange version with black stars, and a yellow colorway tied to ComplexCon. Each has put a different spin on the familiar silhouette, helping make Yachty’s run of designs a continuing talking point among sneaker watchers.
Earlier this year, another pair of the shoes, this time with blue and red detailing and thick white stitching, was also teased. That version is expected to launch around the holidays, but the details provided don’t confirm whether it will launch alongside the recently unveiled white one.
Some questions remain unanswered about the “White Contrast Stitch” design. Nike has not confirmed any price, style code, or even whether the sneaker will be released to the public. The design has drawn attention through its online appearance and Yachty’s preview, but neither sets a launch date nor guarantees consumers can buy it.
That anticipation makes the latest reveal more of a first look than a proper release announcement. The white leather upper and blue-and-orange stitching are on display, but key retail details remain unknown. For now, there is no confirmed timeline for when the pair might hit stores, or if it will be offered beyond the preview.
Still, the design adds another variation to a collection that has featured a wide variety of colors and details. The white base makes this one more subtle, while the contrast stitching keeps it from being a straight-up all-white release.
Yachty’s latest preview continues his ongoing relationship with the silhouette, with several other Air Force 1 Mid designs already shown this year. It’s not clear if the “White Contrast Stitch” pair will ever make it to the light of day, but it’s definitely added another distinct look to his growing collection.
-
Album Review3 days agoLegends of the Seven Golden Vampires explore healing and personal growth on “The Pumphouse of Broken Dreams” [album]
-
Artist Spotlight3 days agoRicky’s Rebel Rabble honor family and remembrance through “Molly”
-
Artist Spotlight4 days agoT1M1 featuring Keybeaux confront artificial creativity with latest release “Hip Slop”
-
Artist Spotlight3 days agofor KING & COUNTRY celebrate faith and everyday joy on “the most beautiful colours”
-
Album Review3 days agoBrynja Rán finds clarity in complicated relationships on “Unblurred” [album]
-
Artist Spotlight4 days agoLil Bales unveils a love bomb on latest release “Rust”
-
Artist Spotlight1 day agoBoy Sim explores heartbreak and self-deception on “Cloud Nine”
-
Artist Spotlight4 days agoTerry Ennison examines faith, illusion, death, and transformation on latest release “Testimonial”

