The 2022 World of WearableArt™ (WOW) Awards that made a welcome return to Wellington’s TSB Arena after two years showcased the pinnacle of art, music, choreography and fashion.
A local from the fashion industry who attended the spectacular wearable art show told EastLife, “This is way beyond the Milan or Paris Fashion Week. It was the ultimate experience in creativity and style. I didn’t want to blink for a moment for those two hours just in case I missed something. I felt so privileged that this spectacle happens literally at the end of the world, and I get to see it.”
The Supreme WOW Award went to Hawke’s Bay artist Kate MacKenzie – it’s the second time she has won the top prize.
MacKenzie is among 21 award winners in the 2022 World of WearableArt Awards Competition, in which more than NZD$185,000 of prize money was on offer across three recurring sections, Aotearoa, Avant-garde and Open, as well as three new sections in 2022: Architecture, Elizabethan Era and Monochromatic.
The event came alive with this year’s 88 finalist entries by 103 designers representing 20 countries and regions worldwide.
WOW Competition director Heather Palmer says, “We have been waiting for an incredibly long time to share the work of our 2022 finalist designers with the world, and finally, we can give each of the garments their moment to shine on the WOW stage. To see the passion, innovation and dedication of this year’s finalists is incredibly affirming. We celebrate the achievement of this year’s finalists and also look ahead to the 2023 Competition with much anticipation!”
The judges said of the Supreme WOW Award winner, “We are in awe of the designer’s resourcefulness in using the vintage china cabinet and Singer sewing machine drawers. It perfectly captures what we mean when we say wearable art. It is refined, sculptural and tells a story.”
For the complete list of winners, visit worldofwearableart.com
