Inside Wellington’s iconic World of WearableArt show 2023

WOW is New Zealand’s most spectacular theatrical stage production and the world’s leading wearable art competition. Featuring 110 finalist entries by over 120 designers representing 23 countries and regions around the world, the garments reflect a range of important social issues and are made with a selection of technologies, materials and techniques. The 33rd iteration of this iconic event will run at the TSB Arena in Wellington, NZ until 8 October 2023.

‘Digital Ascension of Kitsune’, an inflatable latex masterpiece by Dawn Mostow and Snow Winters from the USA, was the winning entry in the Gold Section of the show as well as the overall winner for the International Award. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

‘Hope’ by Oliver Cain from New Zealand makes a bold and cheerful appearance in the Open Section of the production. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

‘Jeanus Terrablis’ by Samantha Anderson from Australia appears on the runway in the Mars & Beyond category. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

‘Groundbreaking’ performed in the Bizarre Bra section. Created by husband and wife team Kristy Kirkpatrick and David Kirkpatrick from New Zealand, the ‘digger bra’ won gold for the category. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

An unearthly ‘Spiral Nebula’ by Galina Mihaleva from the United States takes the stage in the Mars & Beyond Section. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

The most bedazzled bunny you ever did see. ‘Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow’ by Jackie Butterworth from New Zealand is modelled in the Gold Section. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

‘Icy I of Enceladus’ by Christine Wingels from New Zealand makes a playful appearance in the Mars & Beyond Section. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

Joanne Van Wyk and Lena Van Der Wat (81 and 87) from South Africa, who, with their daughter/daughter-in-law Erna Van Der Wat from Auckland, crocheted this extraordinary alien – ‘Blooming Proof!’ – to win the Mars & Beyond section. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

‘Birth of the Babel Fish’ by Lynnette Griffiths and Marion Gaemers from Australia is modelled in the Mars & Beyond Section and won the International Design Award for Australia & Pacific. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

This dazzling creation entitled ‘Oizys - Goddess of Emotion’ won the First-time Entrant Award and was crafted by Abhishek Chauhan from India. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

The winner of the Aotearoa section went to this phenomenal huge wooden wētā, entitled ‘Child.Hood’. Created by welder Craig McMillan, who took his inspiration from growing up on the West Coast of New Zealand. Picture: Stephen A'Court

‘Tears Unseen’ by Carena West from New Zealand was the winner of the Sustainability Award. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

‘Love Me Tender’ by Antoaneta Tica from Romania is modelled in the Avant-garde Section of the show. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

A bold appearance of ‘Rimurimu - Lungs of the Ocean’ by Lyndal Linton, Brett Linton and Harvey Linton from New Zealand is shown in the Aotearoa Section. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

‘Celestial Body’ by Jagoda Matecka and Zofia Brunarska from Magdalena Abakanowicz University of the Arts in Poland dances in the Mars & Beyond Section. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

Even the production’s entertainers are on point as they perform during the 2023 World of WearableArt Preview Show. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

‘Halo’ by Lisa Vanin of New Zealand cuts a striking figure in the Aotearoa Section. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

‘Ouroboros’ by Srisha Arya and Kavya Kathuria from Pearl Academy in India is shown in the Avant-garde Section. An ouroboros is an ancient symbol often depicting a snake - or dragon - swallowing its own tail. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

First-time entrant Chiaki Shimizu, from Japan, won the Avant-garde section and the Wētā Workshop Emerging Designer award with the incredibly crafted ‘SAMURAI Girl’. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

‘Wellington “The Skin I Am In”’ by Katherine Bertram from New Zealand makes a glamorous appearance in the Aotearoa Section. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

Everything turns to gold as ‘Captain King Midas’ by Shiree Houf of the USA walks the runway in the Gold Section. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

Futuristic Fashion Technology by Fatemeh Delkhah from Iran is modelled in the Avant-garde Section. This creation won the Dame Suzie Moncrieff Award. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

‘Metamorphosis’ by Juliet Dodson of the United Kingdom was the International Design Award winner for the UK & Europe and was shown in the Avant-garde Section. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

‘Earthling’ by Gill Saunders from New Zealand is the overall winner of the 2023 Supreme WOW Award. Taking inspiration from adult colouring books, the piece celebrates earth’s natural wonders in a vibrant, 100% handcrafted garment made from EVA foam, acrylic paint, and wire. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

‘Seraph’ by Sasha Wisniowski from Australia makes a heavenly entrance to the show’s Gold Section. Picture: Andi Crown

The show’s Bizarre Bra Section featured the fabulously-named ‘Potatoes Po-Tatas’ by Ben Ng-Wai Shing from New Zealand. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt

There’s a lot going on in Ayikaili Qigesi’s ‘Aishulpan’ in the production’s Avant-garde Section. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt