Delhi-based designer Suket Dhir became the winner of the 2015/16 International Woolmark Award (IWP) in the regional final of the menswear category.
The judges’ panel comprised big names in the fashion industry like Designer Haider Ackerman, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Business of Fashion Imran Amed, International Editor of Vogue Suzy Menkes, Fashion Director of Esquire Nick Sullivan, Editor-in-Chief of GQ Japan Masafumi Suzuki, Director of Strategy and Vision of Polimoda Linda Loppa, CEO of Pitti Immagine Raffaello Napoleone and Managing Director of Woolmark Company Stuart McCullough.
Also Read – Suket Dhir wins regional final of 2015 International Woolmark Prize
praising his designs, Designer Haider Ackermann said, “For me, it wasn’t a hard decision. Suket is a person with a dream to tell, and I thought that it was very beautiful, because fashion at this time is about a dream, and the rest – the business – will follow. And technically, he showed us details I’ve never seen before, and that’s very impressive.”
Suket’s sojourn in the designing world started four years ago, when he entered the fashion world in an unplanned way. His entry into the fashion industry was unprecedented, having had a grandfather who is a cloth merchant and father who is into garment industry.
On receiving the award, he exclaimed, “This is certainly very overwhelming, and everything that I needed right now. I’ve done what I could in India, and this is the best thing that could happen to me for me to move in to the global fashion industry in a bigger way.”
His collection is a rich mix of hand-tied and dyed yarn (also known as ikkat). The faded ombre pattern of his designs brings with it the hues of past memories. Seamless molding and heat-setting of the fabric enhances the look of his garments, while the age-old technique of Kasui gives it a classic twist. He will receive AU$100,000 to help support the growth of his business and to get mentor support from the industry.
