French designer Alicia Ferreira de Sousa has made a name for herself as the winner of the prestigious Adidas x Woolmark Performance Challenge prize. This exciting announcement was made during a special event at the Outdoor Retailer trade show in Denver, Colorado. The Woolmark Performance Challenge is a global competition designed to inspire graduate students to push the boundaries of textile innovation. Ferreira de Sousa, a student at the renowned Ecole de la Maille in Paris, wowed the judges with her innovative approach to incorporating Merino wool into performance wear.
In her winning design, Ferreira de Sousa focused on creating a fabric that not only enhances athletic performance but also establishes a deeper connection with the wearer’s body. She saw the potential for Merino wool to adapt to the needs of athletes in various conditions and settings, leading to improved performance outcomes. For her outstanding work, Ferreira de Sousa received a prize of €10,000 and a coveted three-month internship at Adidas. Additionally, she will have the opportunity to bring her winning concept to life with manufacturing support and mentorship from the Woolmark Company.
Tillmann Studrucker, Adidas Senior Design Director of Apparel Running, praised the students’ innovative ideas and hard work, stating that the competition was tough due to the high quality of submissions. Ultimately, Ferreira de Sousa’s design captured the essence of Adidas founder Adi Dassler’s vision of providing the best for athletes by leveraging the unique properties of wool to enhance sports performance.
The inaugural edition of the competition attracted over 500 students from 58 institutions across Europe and North America, showcasing the growing interest in textile design and performance wear. As applications for the next edition are now open, the future looks promising for aspiring designers eager to make their mark in the industry.
For more information on the Adidas x Woolmark Performance Challenge and how to participate in future competitions, visit here.
To learn more about the benefits of Merino wool in athletic wear, check out here.
