The famous World of WearableArt™ (WOW) Awards Show is back after the 2021 WOW Awards Show was cancelled just weeks before opening due to COVID-19.
A special visual treat awaits fashion followers and style cognoscenti as a spectacular theatrical stage production will showcase creative talent from local and international designers.
This year’s show has been choreographed with the creative vision of executive creative director Brian Burke, the creative producer of America’s Got Talent and the co-executive producer of American Idol.
Alongside show director New Zealand’s Malia Johnston, the stage will come alive each night with incredible works of wearable art, dancers, aerialists, and foot-tapping beats created by music director Paul McLaney and composer Eden Mulholland. In addition, a digital effects team from Belgium, Drop the Spoon, will add to the spectacle with breath-taking AV creations.
More than $185,000 of awards and prizes are up for grabs across three recurring sections – Aotearoa, Avant-garde and Open, as well as three new sections in 2022: Architecture, Elizabethan Era and Monochromatic.
The first round of judging to select finalists took place in 2021 by a panel comprising WOW founder and resident judge Dame Suzie Moncrieff, designer and co-founder of Zambesi Elisabeth Findlay, and acclaimed New Zealand sculptor Jeff Thomson.
Alongside the main judging panel for 2022 are: international guest judge and British Academy Award-winning costume designer Alexandra Byrne, the Residency Experience Award judge, Swedish-born fashion activist and celebrity stylist, B. Åkerlund, and Weta Workshop Emerging Designer Award judge – co-founder, CEO and creative director of Weta Workshop, Sir Richard Taylor.
Finalists will now get their moment to shine as the iconic event returns from September 29 to October 16 at Wellington’s TBS Arena.
For more information www.worldofwearableart.com
