The World of WearableArt, known as WOW, is a renowned international design competition in Wellington, New Zealand that attracts hundreds of entries from all over the world. Finalists compete for over $170,000 (NZD) in prize money plus incredible experiences with leading creative companies such as Sir Richard Taylor's Weta Workshop and Cirque du Soleil.
For 30 years, World of WearableArt has bewitched and beguiled. Now, for this very special anniversary event, WOW is once again calling on designers, artists and creators everywhere to bring to life the worlds that live in your mind for this truly international global competition.
Here are the guidleines of the six worlds that make up the 2018 World of WearableArt Awards:
Avant-garde: Collision between art and fashion Take us somewhere we haven’t been. A world that is experimental, radical and unorthodox. Dare to defy the boundaries of fashion and create a work that is unique and innovative, rejecting the ordinary and nurturing originality.
Aotearoa: Expressing our way of life New Zealand has its own deep sense of place. Draw on that to celebrate who we are as peoples and what makes us proud. From our rich cultures to our landscapes, our independence to our inventions, show us New Zealand and New Zealanders as you see us. Reflective Surfaces: Catch our eye, make us catch our breath The joy of light brought to life. Create a work of art that adorns the body and plays with light and shine. Consider everyday items, plastics, metals, fabrics, mirrors… materials that glimmer, sparkle and glow.
Under the Microscope: Defying the limits of our vision Take us into the world of trillions: places where populations that stagger the mind gather, thrive, compete. Enter into this unforeseen invisible universe and ignite your imagination. Show us the gorgeous or grotesque. A world that is full of creative possibilities, surreal, freaky and insanely beautiful. Open: Explore without boundaries Open is a world where there are no boundaries, themes or rules, giving you complete creative freedom to explore. The only limit is your imagination. Concept, construction, materials – it’s all up to you. Defy. Define. Delight.
Bizarre Bra: Hidden no longer Bring it out, make it shine, give it new meaning, show us its potential – so that we see something we thought we knew so well in completely different lights. A wonderful opportunity to bring creativity and wit to a mainstay of modern living.
The World of WearableArt Awards is open to anyone over the age of 18, as at 28 March 2018.
To enter, you must first register as a designer via www.worldofwearableart.com/competition