Hey high school students, the annual Wool4School design comp is now open

Go put your best self forward.

As with many industries, the fight for change within fashion is steered largely by passionate young people looking to protect and improve their futures.

Once again, The Woolmark Company’s annual Wool4School competition has landed to give these young creatives a platform to show the world their vision for fashion’s future.

Under the program, high school students around the country are invited to design an outfit that showcases their innovation and creativity. The strongest applicants then go in the running for prizes designed to give them a leg up in their design careers.

The year 12 winner, for example, will receive a scholarship to the prestigious Whitehouse Institute of Design, with the choice of attending either the Melbourne or Sydney campus.

Prizes otherwise vary across different age categories, and have previously included an internship with Dion Lee, Bernina sewing machines, and the chance to have their garments produced by an established Australian designer.

To enter, applicants are asked to design between one to four garments around a common theme, submitting illustrations, design statements, mood boards and technical sketches – depending on their age and year level.

Last year’s theme was technology, and saw winning designs incorporating acupressure for stress relief, motion sensors to assist visually-impaired teenagers and GPS trackers for dog walkers.

For 2020, the theme is flora and fauna.

Whether in inspiration, function or technique, students will need to make reference to flora or fauna within their designs. The idea is to inspire applicants to think creatively about nature, and find a way to honour it through their work.

Each of the concepts submitted must also meet one important criterion: they all must use at least 70 per cent Australian wool in their proposed construction.

Wool is a natural resource that’s both renewable and biodegradable, making it an incredibly sustainable fibre when sourced ethically. Students will have to think carefully about what kind of wool works best for their garments, exploring the benefits different textiles can have for their theoretical consumers, as well as the planet.

Anyone interested in getting involved can register here before May 29. They’ll then receive all the information and resources they need to get started on their designs.

Winners will be announced this August.   

wool4school.com