New Zealand’s iconic cultural event, the annual Montana World of WearableArt™ (WOW®) Awards Show has attracted unprecedented interest from Australian designers.
After a recent tour of Australia in which Competition Director, Heather Palmer and Education Liaison, Esme Palliser visited Australian design institutes and fashion schools, WOW received 36 entries from Australian designers.
This high number of entries was aided by the support of Mainfreight Owens International who will freight garments to New Zealand for free. The cost of freight has been a huge barrier to international designers who wish to enter the annual Awards show.
Entries for the September shows in Wellington closed recently, with 82 received from designers from as far afield as the UAE, Japan, Germany, Iceland, Thailand and the USA. India had the second highest number of international entries, with 28 garments being sent to Nelson for preliminary judging.
A total of 318 entries have been received for the 2007 Montana WOW® Awards, with the WOW team excitedly awaiting the garments arriving in mid June. Preliminary Judging is then held in Nelson on July 8 and 9. This process decides which of the entries will make it to the stage in September. Following the Judging process, each garment is then individually choreographed into a unique performance piece.
The judges for the 2007 Montana WOW® Awards are highly esteemed fashion designer Trelise Cooper and premiere Christchurch sculptor Neil Dawson, as well as WOW creator and director Suzie Moncrieff. The judges have the unenviable task of choosing the best garments to take the stage in September, and of course narrowing down the Award winning garments.
The selected garments will then be showcased in the annual theatrical extravaganza over seven themed sections, interwoven with every facet of performance, from music, dance, lighting and theatre to comedy.
The 2007 Montana WOW® Awards open at the TSB Bank Arena in Wellington on Thursday September 20.
For more information contact: Loren Aberhart Marketing Executive World of WearableArt™ Ltd DDI 03 547 0865 Email loren@worldofwearableart.com
