Woolmark names Performance Challenge winners
Australian Wool Innovation-run textile fibre brand Woolmark, a non-profit which promotes domestically grown merino wool on the international stage, has announced the three winners of this year’s Woolmark Performance Challenge, delivered in partnership with outdoor company Salomon.
The competition brief asked for proposals for head-to-toe kits made for long-distance mountain trail runners from natural fibres and merino wool.
Out of 10 finalists, selected from entrants hailing from 191 universities spanning 25 countries, Giulia Ciola (Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti), Chloe Jerolaman (University of Cincinnati) and Michael Orlow (University of Oregon) were respectively presented with a €10,000 research bursary, a special Adaptable Innovation Award and a three-month paid Salomon internship during sports trade show ISPO Munich. Ms Jerolaman, who “surprised” the panel with her idea for a kit tailored to disabled trail runners, also won a three-month paid internship with the brand.
Her concept led to a merino wool uniform designed to mimic the compression properties of kinesiology tape, which seeks to mitigate injuries caused by an asymmetrical gait. Ms Ciola’s functional, yet compostable, blend of merino, milk fibre, cellulosic seaweed-based fibre SeaCell, viscose and chitosan fibre compound Crabyon and nettle won her the research bursary, while Mr Orlow (pictured left) “most impressively” fulfilled the brief by suggesting a 3D-printed, seamless merino wool garment based on body-scan data. The addition of keratin recovered from wool processing also makes the article waterproof.
“Michael was able to respond to the brief by transferring technologies from biomedical research, which was an expectation of the Salomon creative teams,” the brand’s footwear research and development manager, Florian Traullé (pictured middle), said. “The proposal opens [up] a virgin field for sustainable innovation.”
Brands interested in developing any of the finalists’ ideas or partnering with Woolmark on a future performancewear challenge are invited to email wpc@wool.com.
In related news, the 2023 International Woolmark Prize finalists were named earlier this month.
Michael Orlow receives Salomon’s internship prize at ISPO. Credit: Australian Wool Innovation.
