Awards & Prizes

Supreme WOW Award

The most prestigious Award of all; given to the entry that the judges consider to be the most exceptional overall.

Winner

NZ$

30,000

Second Prize

NZ$

15,000

Third prize

NZ$

Wanton Widow, Kate MacKenzie, New Zealand

Dame Suzie Moncrieff Award

Chosen by WOW Founder, Dame Suzie Moncrieff, as the garment that epitomises the WOW spirit.

Winner

NZ$

6,000

Second Prize

NZ$

Third prize

NZ$

Waka Huia, Kayla Christensen, New Zealand

Section Awards

Aotearoa, Avant-garde, Open, Crazy Curiosities of the Creature Carnival, Natural World, and Geometric Abstraction.

Winner

NZ$

6,000

Second Prize

NZ$

3,000

Third prize

NZ$

1,500

Fera Dei, Fifi Colston & Bruce Mahalski, New Zealand

Accor Live Limitless First-time Entrant Award

This award recognises the creativity and originality of an entry submitted by a first-time entrant. To qualify for the Accor Live Limitless First-Time Entrant Award, all members of a design team must be first-time entrants.

Winner

NZ$

5,000

Second Prize

NZ$

Third prize

NZ$

Hide & Seek, Mingzhang Sun, London College of Fashion, United Kingdom

Student Innovation Award

This award recognises an entry submitted by a current tertiary student or recent graduate. To qualify for the Student Innovation Award, all members of a design team must be current tertiary students or have graduated within the 12 months before entering.

Winner

NZ$

5,000

Second Prize

NZ$

Third prize

NZ$

Kaleidoscope, Tess Tavener Hanks, University of Technology Sydney, Australia

Transformation Innovation Award

This award recognizes an entry that inspires awe using the element of surprise. This may be achieved through transformation, innovative design, performative elements or with the use of technology.

Winner

NZ$

5,000

Second Prize

NZ$

Third prize

NZ$

Sea Urchin Explosion, Jack Irving, United Kingdom

Sustainability Award

This award recognises a designer who creates a garment that meets one of the following criteria:

Upcycled: Garment designed to maximise use of discarded materials. Made from at least 85% post-consumer and/or post-industrial repurposed materials.

Circular: Garment designed with its end-of-life value in-mind. Made from at least 85% materials that can be easily separated at garment end-of-life and readily recycled and/or composted.

Winner

NZ$

5,000

Second Prize

NZ$

Third prize

NZ$

Haerenga (Journey), Christopher Davis, New Zealand

Fisher Funds New Zealand Design Award

Acknowledging the creativity and excellence of New Zealand designers. For the Fisher Funds New Zealand Design Award, all members of a design team must be citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand.

Winner

NZ$

5,000

Second Prize

NZ$

Third prize

NZ$

Kaitiaki, Lisa Vanin, New Zealand

Absolutely Positively Wellington International Design Awards

Acknowledging the creativity and excellence of international designers, a prize of NZD$5,000 is awarded to the best international design from each of the following regions:

United Kingdom & Europe, Americas, Asia, and Australia & Pacific.

To qualify for the Absolutely Positively Wellington International Design Awards, all members of a design team must be citizens or permanent residents of the same region.

In addition, an Overall International Winner is selected and receives NZD$6,000 plus a travel prize of up to NZD$4,000.

Winner

NZ$

Second Prize

NZ$

Third prize

NZ$

Gemini: the Twins, Dawn Mostow & Ben Gould, United States

Wētā Workshop Emerging Designer Award

The winner of this Award is chosen by Sir Richard Taylor, CEO and Creative Director of Wētā Workshop, from across all categories of the competition.

The winner will have the unique opportunity to spend time behind-the-scenes at Wētā Workshop, and receives NZD$6,000, flights from anywhere in the world plus accommodation in Wellington for up to four weeks.

Winner

NZ$

6,000

Second Prize

NZ$

Third prize

NZ$

The Giant Purse, Thao Nguyen, Vietnam

WOW Designer Development Award

This award has been created to support a designer through a professional development opportunity relating to their chosen field of creative practice. The Award is currently open to Finalists in the 2023 competition.

WOW will select the award winner based on an application which outlines the designers’ creative or technical goals and presents an excellent opportunity to pursue professional development via education, training, experience, mentorship, or internship.

Winner

NZ$

7,500

Second Prize

NZ$

Third prize

NZ$

Tall Poppy People's Choice Award

The winner of this award is chosen by the show audience via an online voting system. The Tall Poppy People’s Choice Award is announced after the WOW Show season concludes.

Winner

NZ$

2,500

Second Prize

NZ$

Third prize

NZ$