After a judging session featuring an esteemed panel that included CFDA’s Steven Kolb, InStyle’s Laura Brown, Thom Browne and André Leon Talley, The Woolmark Company unveiled the winners of the 2017/18 International Woolmark Prize USA regional final: Christopher Bevans of DYNE for menswear and Zaid Affas for womenswear.

Both receive AU$70,000, or approximately $ 55,434 at current exchange rate, and proceed to the international finals where they compete with winners from other regions. There, the designers will showcase a six-piece capsule collection in Merino wool, which they will develop over the next six to seven months. The winner of the global prize will receive another AU$200,000, or $158,366 at current exchange rate, toward their collection, as well as invaluable mentoring from top fashion industry experts. They also get the chance to sell their clothes at retail partners such as Boon the Shop, Boutique 1, David Jones, De Bijenkorf, Harvey Nichols, Hudson’s Bay Company, LECLAIREUR, Mytheresa.com; ORDRE and SSENSE.COM.

“American fashion is well represented with this year’s winners of the Woolmark Prize,” Kolb said. “I’m extra excited to see both brands coming from the West Coast.

The other judges who turned out to the event at NeueHouse Madison Sq. were Malcolm Carfrae, Kate Lanphear, Stefano Tonchi, Julie Gilhart, Nick Sullivan, and Woolmark’s very own Michelle A. Lee.

“The support and opportunity The Woolmark Company provides young talent is significant and is providing real business advancement for the designers,” Kolb added.