Recent highlights of student education
AWI subsidiary The Woolmark Company continues to foster the education and development of tertiary students – inspiring them in the early stage of their careers about the properties and benefits of Merino wool, and encouraging them to continue to champion the fibre as they progress through their professional lives. Here is a selection of some of The Woolmark Company’s recent work in this area.
US fashion students on Aussie wool tour
US students at Vasey Farm near Balmoral in Victoria.
Students and their teachers from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), part of the State University of New York and one of the most prestigious fashion schools in the world, received an eye-opening journey through Australia's wool supply chain when they visited the country in February.
The international trade and marketing students explored the ‘Vasey Farm’ and ‘Glendemar’ wool-growing properties in Victoria, received an inside look at Australia’s quality assurance and testing facilities at AWTA, and gained insights into logistics at AWH in Melbourne.
In Sydney, the students experienced the wool auctions at Yennora and visited the AWI office to meet with staff and receive an induction in research, sustainability, Woolmark licensing, The Wool Lab sourcing guide, and the Australian market. The students also visited APG & Co (which owns iconic fashion brands Sportscraft, SABA and JAG) to meet with buyers, discuss marketing and trade logistics, and view past, current and future collections.
LVMH Master Classes in France
Founder and CEO of Swiss sports brand MOVER, Nicolas Rochas, discussing wool’s versatility in sportswear with 38 students in Paris in February.
LVMH’s Institute of Métiers d’Excellence (Professions of Excellence) organises educational Master Classes for students specialising in sales and fashion design. The students work part-time within the LVMH luxury goods group and benefit from Master Classes by learning about and discovering other segments within the industry. LVMH boasts such prestigious headline fashion brands as Christian Dior, Céline, Givenchy, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, Stella McCartney, Kenzo and more.
The Woolmark Company has been supporting the Master Classes for six years by organising five each year in Paris for the students. Through its involvement in the Master Classes, The Woolmark Company educates the students about wool and positions it as the ultimate sustainable luxury fibre.
The Woolmark Company has this year included some key partners that actively work on developing products with Merino wool as guest speakers in the Master Classes. The guest speakers have included Founder and CEO of Swiss sports brand MOVER, Nicolas Rochas; Founder and CEO of French luxury tailoring brand 17h10, Caroline Rey; and textile consultant at French sports brand Hopaal, Stéphanie Meigné.
Forging future trends in Türkiye
Students from Halic University at an exhibition of their work in February, with Gulay Gokbayrak of The Woolmark Company Turkey (centre left).
Students in the Fashion Design Program of Halic University in Istanbul have used Australian sheepskins to create a collection of garments for a pioneering project in fashion innovation titled ‘Forging Future Trends’.
The project was a collaboration between Halic University, The Woolmark Company and DABBAGH Deri, a leading supplier of quality and ethically produced sheepskin. DABBAGH Deri is a Woolmark licensee and a member of the DABBAGH Group, headquartered in Australia.
Under the mentorship of industry experts and seasoned designers, the students created a collection that embodies the ethos of modern fashion: innovative, timeless, and environmentally conscious. The collaboration underscores the importance of industry-academic partnerships in driving innovation and sustainability within the fashion sector.
This article appeared in the June 2024 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.
