Donatella Versace heads the Woolmark Prize 2025 jury
Barely having left Versace, Donatella Versace returns to the forefront by chairing the prestigious International Woolmark Prize 2025.
Just seven days after announcing her departure from the House of Versace , Donatella Versace is back in the spotlight with a prestigious new role. An undisputed fashion icon, the Italian designer has just been named president of the jury for the International Woolmark Prize 2025 , a competition that celebrates the innovation and excellence of young designers through Merino wool.
A role that suits her perfectly, as Donatella has always been keen to support the new generation of designers . Back in 2013, she sat alongside Victoria Beckham , Diane von Furstenberg and the unforgettable Franca Sozzani to elect a winner. Today, she takes the reins of this institution and surrounds herself with an exceptional jury, composed of Ib Kamara , guest artistic director of the event, star stylist Law Roach , DJ and producer Honey Dijon , as well as fashion critic Tim Blanks , Zegna artistic director Alessandro Sartori , and the stylist of actresses Ayo Edebiri and Saoirse Ronan, Danielle Goldberg .
A commitment faithful to his vision
When she announced her departure from Versace, Donatella stated that "supporting the new generation of designers has always been essential" to her. This commitment is visible from the Versus line, where she gave a platform to talents such as Christopher Kane, Jonathan Anderson and Anthony Vaccarello , now at the helm of Saint Laurent . Her involvement in the Woolmark Prize is part of this same dynamic: highlighting the designers of tomorrow.
The 2025 finalists: a promising cast
This year, eight international talents will compete for the prestigious award, including:
• Duran Lantink (Netherlands)
• Ester Manas & Balthazar De Lierre by Ester Manas (Belgium)
• Louis-Gabriel Nouchi (France)
• Meryll Rogge (Belgium)
• Rual Lopez de Luar (United States)
• Luca Lin from Act No. 1 (Italy)
• Michael Stewart of Standing Ground (Ireland)
• Rachel Scott from Diotima (United States)
The challenge? Design six looks in Merino wool, demonstrating the many facets of this material: innovation, sustainability, and technical excellence. The grand winner, announced on April 2 in Milan, will receive a prize .
With past winners such as Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani , or more recently Matty Bovan, Saul Nash and Lagos Space Programme , this competition is a real launching pad for the most promising designers.
A golden future for Donatella
While her departure from Versace marked the end of an era, Donatella Versace proves with this new role that her influence on fashion is far from over. Always at the forefront of luxury's future, she continues to inspire, encourage, and shape the style of tomorrow. One thing is certain: the queen of glamour hasn't said her last word.
