Thursday July 3rd, Chinese designer Qui Hao was chosen from a group of ten finalists to win the inaugural Woolmark Prize. The ceremony was held at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and designer Sonia Rykiel "the queen of knits" was this year's official patron. This award, which is given to an up-and-coming, cutting edge designer, is meant to help young talent get a leg up in the fashion industry and provides the winner support of up to $100,000 and the opportunity to sell their designs at Colette, a mega-trendy store in Paris.

Designs on display in the Palais de Tokyo

Designer Sonia Rykiel

Winner Qiu Hao (far left) with Sonia Rykiel (right)

One of Hao's winning designs

Posted and Photographs by ELIZABETH PANTALEO, Paris bureau