UO Students Shine in Merino Wool Design Contest

Five UO students named finalists in prestigious global competition for innovative athletic apparel using natural wool fibers

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Graduate students in the University of Oregon's sports product design program have excelled in the annual Woolmark Performance Challenge, with five of the 12 finalists for 2025 being Ducks. The competition invites college students worldwide to develop new ideas for using Merino wool to create high-performance athletic gear. UO students Chloe Burchard and Jacob Kauff were recognized for their winning designs that leverage wool's natural properties to regulate temperature and moisture for mountain biking apparel.

Why it matters

The Woolmark Performance Challenge highlights the potential for wool, an age-old natural fiber, to revolutionize modern sportswear. As the apparel industry seeks more sustainable materials, wool's breathability, odor-resistance, and temperature-regulating abilities make it an attractive alternative to synthetic fabrics. The success of UO students in this prestigious global competition showcases the university's leadership in sports product design innovation.

The details

Chloe Burchard's winning 'Vaporate' design uses the unique properties of auxetic fabrics, which expand when stretched, to create a network of natural wool fibers that respond to sweat by opening tiny ventilation flaps. Jacob Kauff's 'Nattara' concept explores bioprinting humidity-reactive bacteria onto wool, allowing the fabric to automatically open and close vents based on the rider's exertion levels and environmental conditions. Both designs aim to keep mountain bikers dry and comfortable without the need for additional layering or stops to change clothes.

  • The Woolmark Performance Challenge has been held annually since 2018.
  • The 2025 competition featured 12 finalists, 5 of whom were students from the University of Oregon.
  • Chloe Burchard won the grand prize in 2025, earning a 3-month internship with Alpinestars in Italy.
  • Jacob Kauff was awarded the Woolmark Research Bursary in 2025, receiving $5,000 and a 1-year mentorship to advance his 'Nattara' prototype.

The players

Chloe Burchard

A graduate of the University of Oregon's sports product design program, Burchard won the 2025 Woolmark Performance Challenge with her 'Vaporate' design for moisture-wicking mountain biking apparel.

Jacob Kauff

A sports product design student at the University of Oregon, Kauff was awarded the Woolmark Research Bursary in 2025 for his 'Nattara' concept, which explores using bioprinted bacteria to create self-regulating ventilation in wool athletic wear.

Susan Sokolowski

The founder of the University of Oregon's sports product design program, which offers a Master of Science degree.

The Woolmark Company

An organization that researches, develops, and certifies Australian wool, and hosts the annual Woolmark Performance Challenge design competition for college students.

Alpinestars

The industry partner for the 2025 Woolmark Performance Challenge, producing motorsports apparel.

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What they’re saying

“It's very competitive. The challenge is a great way for our students to shine because we focus on maximizing performance in sporting goods.”

— Susan Sokolowski, Founder, University of Oregon Sports Product Design Program (Mirage News)

“I'm huge on natural materials. I wanted to be part of the Woolmark Performance Challenge since I first heard about it. When I found out I won, it was exciting and a little surreal.”

— Chloe Burchard (Mirage News)

“You want to create something that's out there, conceptual, exciting and different. But you also want to bring that concept down to real life. How would it actually be developed? That's the real challenge.”

— Jacob Kauff, Sports Product Design Student, University of Oregon (Mirage News)

What’s next

Chloe Burchard will begin her 3-month internship with Alpinestars in Italy to further develop her winning 'Vaporate' design. Jacob Kauff will work with a Woolmark mentor for one year to advance and test prototypes of his 'Nattara' concept.

The takeaway

The success of University of Oregon students in the prestigious Woolmark Performance Challenge underscores the program's leadership in developing innovative, sustainable solutions for the future of athletic apparel. Their designs showcase wool's potential to disrupt the sportswear industry by providing natural, temperature-regulating, and environmentally-friendly alternatives to synthetic fabrics.