Chinese Designer Bags Woolmark Prize

Qui Hao - nymag.com

The first-ever Australian Merino Woolmark Prize, sponsored by the Australian Wool Innovation, has a winner in the person of up-and-coming Chinese designer Qui Hao.

Hao, whose winning entries include a Merino white wool dress encircled with knitted orbs, beat out nine other finalists, including Louise Goldin, for the 100,000 euro prize. He now plans to use the money to transfer to Paris.

"I'm coming to Paris", the 30-year-old designer declared. "I'm looking to move to the next stage".

The presentation at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris on Thursday night was disrupted by a major power outage, as a small group of animal rights protestors demonstrated outside against mulesing, a common practice in Australian sheep farming.

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