Woolmark Prize Menswear: India's Suketdhir takes home the prize

By

Dominique Muret

Published
Jan 14, 2016

The 2015-16 Men's International Woolmark Prize winner is Suket Dhir, a 36-year old designer from India who launched his own brand, Suketdhir, in October 2010.

The pleasant designer with long hair and a salt and pepper beard is currently only known and distributed in India. "I don't have enough money to travel," he said, counting on this prestigious prize to increase his visibility.

Very moved, the designer dedicated the prize to his wife Svetlana, his support throughout this adventure, and their 2-year old son, Zorawar, who inspired his collection. Suket Dhir also didn't forget to mention his grandfather, "his muse", who, with his 1940s pants and natural elegance, has inspired his work from the beginning with "clothing with a classic style that is both comfortable and easy."

Suket Dhir fell into fashion by accident. He tried his hand at a bit of everything, including working at a call center, before enrolling at the New Delhi National Institute of Fashion Technology. He also designed a low-cost line for a denim brand.

"I design clothes that breathe," said the designer, who favours linen, cotton, wool and silk, and who uses the traditional technique of hand-tied and dyed yarn, Ikat. For Woolmark he used a wool broadcloth that can be worn in the summer.

The designer will receive 100,000 Australian dollars in prize money and will see his creations sold in major stores around the world, including Harvey Nichols (London), 10 Corso Como (Milan, Beijing and Shanghai), Saks Fifth Avenue (New York), Joyce (Hong Kong), Isetan Mitsukoshi (Japan), David Jones (Australia) and on Matchesfashion.com.

The Women's International Woolmark Prize will be awarded in March in New York.