Keep up-to-date with the latest news from the Woolmark Performance Challenge. Read about previous winners, finalists and judges of the challenge.
Behind the Scenes of the Winning University of the WPC Institution Award
In recognition of the contribution of educational institutions to the Woolmark Performance Challenge, each year the Woolmark Performance Challenge Institution Award – a cash prize of €10,000 – is presented to the university judged to have the highest number of quality entries overall. This year’s WPC Institution Award recipient provided exceptional opportunities and support to students, culminating in the largest number of high-quality wool performance wear innovations.
INNOVATIONS AND WINNERS
The Woolmark Company and Salomon have announced the prize winners and innovative finalist concepts for the Woolmark Performance Challenge 2022. The foremost ideas platform for the sports and performance market, the Woolmark Performance Challenge combines innovative design and Merino wool for creative solutions for performance wear.
Latest News
Immersed in wool
Follow the winner of the WPC 2020 Woolmark internship program, Bettina Blomstedt of Finland, on her three-month journey to develop innovative performance wool samples.
Latest News
What does it take to win the WPC Institution Award?
Meet Susan Sokolowski, Founding Director and Professor of the Sports Product Design Graduate Program, University of Oregon, winner of the WPC 2021 Institution Award.
Latest News
WOOLMARK PERFORMANCE CHALLENGE 2021
The Woolmark Performance Challenge 2021 partnered with Swiss brand On for a running category brief, and Italian brand SALEWA for a ski/mountain category brief. Over 410 students from 137 universities across 24 countries submitted innovation concepts. We’re now pleased to announce our 12 finalists.
Latest News
WOOLMARK PERFORMANCE CHALLENGE 2020
The Woolmark Performance Challenge 2020 brief invited participants to consider ocean racing and this often harsh and demanding landscape as the catalyst of their design process. The brief also centred on how product designers can contribute to the long-term health of the planet, designing performance garments with consideration for the outdoor environments in which they are created to be.
PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS
MEET THE 2018 AND 2019 FINALISTS
The Woolmark Performance Challenge launched in 2018, in partnership with leading sportswear brand adidas, inviting students attending universities across North America and Europe to participate. More than 500 students from 58 universities registered to take part in the inaugural challenge. The second edition - also run in partnership with adidas - saw the challenge expand to global entry, attracting over 1000 registrations. Each year 10 finalists were chosen to progress to the final judging phase.
Meet the Judges
2020 Judges
The 2020 student awards were judged by a highly esteemed panel of judges, including:
Co-Founder / Chief Creative Officer, BYBORRE
Former professional snowboarder + Head of Design Outerwear, Trousers, Textile Accessories, HUGO BOSS
General Manager, Processing Innovation & Education Extension, The Woolmark Company
Research & Development Manager Europe, The Woolmark Company
Reader in Material Technology and Design, University of the Arts London
Consultant – Wool Innovation and Technology, Australian Wool Innovation
Co-Founders, Studio Eva x Carola
Senior Vice President Advanced Innovation, Chief Science Officer, lululemon
Category Director Sailing, Helly Hansen
2019 Judges
Textile Engineering Professor, Hochschule Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences
Head of Design Outerwear, Trousers, Textile Accessories, Hugo Boss Athleisure
International Woolmark Prize menswear and innovation awards winner
General Manager of Processing Innovation & Education Extension, AWI/TWC
Head of Fashion & Technology, Stoll
Editor in Chief, Sportswear International
Senior Design Director, adidas
Creative Recruiter, adidas
Editor, Runner’s World Germany
2018 Judges
Creative Director and Designer, DYNE
General Manager of Processing Innovation & Education Extension, AWI/TWC
Editor-in-chief, SNEWS
Special Projects Editor, Sports Illustrated
Chief Innovation Officer, Future Tech Lab
Senior Design Director, adidas
Creative Recruiter, adidas
