National Wool Museum celebrate sustainable fashion innovation

A SYDNEY designer has been crowned the winner of Geelong’s $10,000 We the Makers Sustainable Fashion Prize.

Shiva Yousefpour was awarded top honours for her piece UNBOUND by SHIYO in the biennial initiative of the National Wool Museum.

The prize, which is now in its third year, supports emerging designers to explore sustainability through innovative design, material use and production practises.

This year’s competition attracted over 150 entries from 13 countries and from every state and territory around Australia.

Ten entries came from the Geelong region, cementing the city’s growing status as a global hub for sustainable design.

 

Winners were selected based on outstanding design and their commitment to sustainability.

National Wool Museum senior curator Josephine Rout said the prize reflects the Museum’s commitment to contemporary fashion.

“These designers are not only redefining style—they are helping transform the fashion industry into a force for good.”

Pivot City Punk by Isobel Hyland received the Mayoral Award, while Coastal Country by Sherry Johnstone was selected for the ARC Research Hub for Future Fibres Innovation Mentorship, Deakin Institute for Frontier Materials.

 

Mayor Stretch Kontelj said the sustainable fashion prize is a powerful example of how Geelong is building on its rich textile legacy while embracing the future of sustainable design.

“As a UNESCO City of Design, we are proud to support this important program that connects our City’s historic roots in textile manufacturing with a new wave of global innovation.

“This prize is a celebration of creativity, sustainability, and our ongoing commitment to shaping a more sustainable future for the fashion industry.”

Voting is now open for the UNESCO City of Design People’s Choice Award, offering a $2,000 prize to the designer who captures top votes.