Woolmark Performance Challenge 2022 Finalists Announced
The theme of Woolmark Performance Challenge 2022, held this year, was long-distance trail running in the mountains. Students were asked to invent a new generation of running kits for long-distance mountain runners, focusing on the use of durable bio-fibers and the innovative nature of Merino wool.
More than 191 universities from 25 countries participated in the program. The jury selected the 10 most promising ideas as finalists before choosing the final 3 winners. Each of these finalists presented innovative solutions for the sports and performance market that will open new markets for the fiber by taking advantage of the unique natural properties of Australian Merino wool. The finalists were considered worth of various awards such as the opportunity to do 3 months of paid internship, research scholarship, adaptive innovation award, and special awards.
The competition aims to reinvent running uniforms from head to toe, from sweat-activated cooling technologies to auxetic mycelium fabrics, from bacterial bio batteries to thermo-chromic fabric structures and more. Woolmark Performance Challenge 2022 finalists contribute to the creation of new markets for Merino wool.
“New Opportunity Potentials for Sports and Outdoor Industry”
Woolmark Company General Manager John Roberts said; “The Woolmark Performance Challenge leverages the design and technical nature of Merino wool to develop the performance garment market and provide innovative solutions. It is the world’s leading idea platform for the sports and performance market. The 10 concepts selected as finalists have the potential to create new opportunities for the sports and outdoor industry. Here we actually showcase design thinking and encourage their adoption to explore their commercial practicality.” The 3D-printed waterproof concept, developed by a student from the University of Oregon, won a 3-month paid internship at Salomon. The path running set of Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti student from Italy, which protects and feeds the natural resource balance of the world with a circular movement from soil to soil, was chosen as the idea that showed the greatest potential for commercial development. The student was awarded with a monetary award of 10,000 euros.