International designer interest in entering the 2006 Montana World of WearableArt™ (WOW®) Awards is already promising an even wider global influence in the shows to be staged in Wellington later this year.
Entries for the annual awards are open, and following the exposure of WOW® in Singapore and Japan last year, as well as Dubai and India, enquiries are now flooding in on how international designers can enter what is one of New Zealand’s most exciting art events.
As a guest of Tourism New Zealand, WOW® showcased New Zealand creativity at the opening event for the inaugural New Zealand Festival week in Singapore last May, to an audience of VIPs and media from throughout Asia.
The chair of the Fashion Design Council India was so impressed with the performance, she asked WOW® directors Suzie Moncrieff and Heather Palmer to visit India and inspire designers to enter the Awards. In conjunction with Tourism New Zealand, lectures were given at five Indian fashion design schools in December, raising significant local interest in entering the 2006 Awards.
Following this interest, WOW® has produced special entry kits for prospective entrants. The 16 page full colour kits explain not only the entry process, but also background on this unique concept, including how Judges find the ‘WOW factor’ in the winning entries.
Last year WOW® added the Wellington City Council International Award to its prize list. With a prize pool of $5000 for the best international entry, 39 international designers from as far afield as Thailand, Canada, Taiwan, Singapore and Australia were eligible for the new Award, which went to Canadian designer, Bev Juno.
There are 7 sections in the 2006 Montana WOW® Awards show – and designers may enter any one. A new category for 2006 is the CentrePort ‘Shape It’ section, which is themed on stripes, spots and checks. Designers are asked to use one or a combination of these shapes in any way imaginable to create a work of WearableArt™.
The HP Childrens Section is also themed this year, with designers asked to use the originality, freedom and honesty of the unique works of art that children produce.
The AT & T Illumination Illusion® Section promises to be a visual feast, as designers are asked to create performance pieces, inspired by dance, theatre, masks, puppetry and illusion, using the magic of UV light to WOW® the audience.
Entries for the 2006 Montana WOW® Awards close in May, with judging in July to select the garments to appear on the catwalk. The shows open in Wellington on September 21.
For more information – Contact Heather Palmer, Competition Director heather@worldofwearableart.com Ph: 03 547 0861
