Awards & Prizes

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

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

Aotearoa, Avant-garde, Open, Mars & Beyond, Gold, and Bizarre Bra.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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.

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.

The winner of this Award is chosen by the show audience via an online voting system. The People’s Choice Award, is announced after the conclusion of the show season