For more information on freighting and sending your garment to Nelson, please have a look at our Freighting page.
How does the WOW entry process work?
Registration
Anyone intending to enter the WOW Design Competition must register first to receive a unique WOW designer number. This number is generated by our database and is required to complete the online entry process. Your designer number will stay the same every year and you are not required to register again. Registered designers will receive our newsletters and announcements as well as judging results and any other communications regarding your entry. Please note that your details will only be used for the purposes of the WOW Design Competition including media releases or to advise you of any WOW news or updates. It will not be passed to any other party. Registration is not the same as entering the competition.
Intention to Enter
The WOW online entry process officially opens in September every year. Designers must submit an intention to enter by 28 March to officially enrol in the current year’s competition. An intention to enter requires designers to record how many garments you are entering into which sections. You can edit this information or withdraw an entry at any point before 28 March. Designers cannot add a new entry after intention to enter closes on 28 March. Design teams of 2-3 members must nominate a lead designer to complete the entry process on behalf of your team.
Pre-selection
Pre-selection is compulsory for first-time New Zealand entrants and all international entrants. A first-time entrant is a designer who has not had an entry selected to appear on stage at a previous WOW Show. Designers are required to submit photographs of their completed garments for the judges to review. Designers will be notified of the judges decisions and successful entrants will be asked to complete the online entry process and to send their entries to World of WearableArt in Nelson, New Zealand to participate in the first official judging round. Returning New Zealand designers are not required to complete pre-selection and the entry process will allow them to go straight to Submit Entry.
| 28 March |
International pre-selection deadline |
| 14 May |
New Zealand pre-selection deadline |
Complete Your Entry
Complete your entry is the final stage of the online entry process. Here you must upload photographs of your completed garment and input all of the information required for your entry, including inspiration, materials and model requirements. Designers must read WOW’s competition rules and print and sign the entry declaration form to send to Nelson, New Zealand along with your entry. Complete your entry closes officially at 5pm 18 June 2018, but most designers should complete this in advance, to send all documentation with your garment.
For further assistance with the online entry process, please email Kate Ruffell kate@worldofwearableart.com
When are entries due?
All designers intending to enter the 2018 WOW Design Competition must complete their intention to enter online by 28 March, 2018.
All International entrants must also complete pre-selection online by 28 March 2018.
All New Zealand first-time entrants must complete pre-selection online by 14 May, 2018.
Garments must arrive at the World of WearableArt complex in Nelson, New Zealand by 5pm 18 June 2018.
What are the competition rules?
Is there an entry fee?
No, there is no entry fee.
Is there an age restriction?
Designers must be 18+ as at 28 March 2018.
What are the key competition dates for 2018?
Competition Dates 2018
| Wed 28 March |
Step 1 (intention to enter) closes
Step 2 entries close for ALL international entrants
|
| Thu 5 April |
International pre-selection results emailed |
| Mon 14 May |
Step 2 entries close for New Zealand first-time entrants |
| Fri 18 May |
New Zealand pre-selection results emailed |
| Mon 18 June |
Step 3 entries close – final garment hand-in 5pm |
| Fri 6 – Sun 8 July |
First Judging |
| Fri 20 July |
Judging results emailed |
| Sun 9 Sept |
Second Judging (provisional) |
| Mon 24 Sept |
Final Judging |
| Fri 28 Sept |
2018 Awards announced |
| Sat 29 Sept |
Entries open for 2019 WOW Design Competition |
What is pre-selection? Do I need to do it?
If you are an international designer, or a New Zealand first-time entrant (you have not had an entry selected for a previous WOW Show) you must complete pre-selection.
A first-time entrant is a designer who has not had an entry selected to appear on stage at a previous WOW Show. Designers are required to submit photographs of their completed garments for the judges to review. Designers will be notified of the judges decisions and successful entrants will be asked to complete the online entry process and to send their entries to World of WearableArt in Nelson, New Zealand to participate in the first official judging round. Returning designers are not required to complete pre-selection and the entry process will allow them to go straight to complete your entry.
When does pre-selection close online?
| 28 March 2018 |
International designers |
| 14 May 2018 |
New Zealand designers |
Why can't I log in to the online entry process?
Have you registered? Designers must register to receive their unique designer number before they can complete the online entry process.
Have you forgotten your designer number, email address or password?
Please contact Kate, our Wardrobe Assistant and they can give you this information.
How do we enter as a design team?
Please register separately, as individual designers. You will each receive a unique 4 or 5-digit designer number. Please elect one team member to be the lead designer, to complete the online entry form for your entry and to be the main contact throughout the competition. You will need to know the designer numbers of your team members to complete the online entry form.
What are the measurements required for my garment?
Female
- Height: 170cm – 180cm
- Bust: 86cm – 96cm, bra size 10B -12B
- Waist: 63cm – 73cm
- Hips: 92cm – 102 cm
- Shoe size: NZ/US 8.5 – 9.5, Eur 39 – 41
Male
- Height: 180cm – 190cm
- Chest: 93cm – 105cm
- Waist: 81cm – 93cm
- Hip: 95cm – 107cm
- Shoe size: NZ/US 10 – 12, Eur 44 – 46.5
Garment Height & Width Restrictions
- When worn by a model, the garment must be easily able to enter and exit the stage via a 1.5m wide, 12 degree ramp.
- The garment must be less than 3 metres in height or length.
Am I an international or a New Zealand entrant?
The country an entry is from is determined by the place where a designer mostly resides. If an internationally born designer is living in New Zealand with New Zealand citizenship or New Zealand permanent residency, they are considered a New Zealand entrant and are not eligible for International Awards. Internationally born designers living in New Zealand on temporary visas, are considered international entrants. A design group of both New Zealand and international designers are not eligible for the International Awards or the New Zealand Design Award.
Why can’t I upload my photographs?
Your photographs may be the wrong size or format. Photographs must be in JPG, tiff, PNG, BMP format. The online entry form cannot accept PDFs rar zip or other formats.
The maximum size is 1.5mb.
Can I submit a sketch or drawing?
No.
You must include at least three full length photographs of your completed garment as part of your entry. You may send additional drawings of your garment if you wish, but they will not be considered for judging.
My garment is not finished, can I still submit it for pre-selection?
Your garment must be completed in the photograph that you submit. It will be considered by the judges as a completed entry.
I am a student but my design partner is not, is our entry eligible for the Student Innovation Award?
No.
Both designers must be students (or graduated within the 12 months before 28 March) to be eligible for the Student Innovation Award. This also applies to the First-Time Entrant Award, both designers must be first time entrants to be eligible for the award.
I studied 10 years ago, am I eligible for the Student Innovation Award?
No.
To be eligible for the Student Innovation Award, the designer must be currently enrolled in a tertiary level course or they have graduated within 12 months, as of April 1. The designer must provide their student ID number in their final entry documents to be considered for this award.
Is it compulsory that I attend the WOW Awards Show if my entry is selected?
No, it is not compulsory for designers to attend the Show if their entry is selected, although we do encourage designers to attend the Awards Ceremony so that in the event they win award, they are present to collect their prize.
How do designers book tickets to the WOW Awards Show?
If your entry is chosen as a finalist (at First Judging, the judges select your entry to appear on stage in the WOW Show), you are entitled to ONE FREE Premium Seat in the ‘Designer Seating Section’ on Awards Night. You can also purchase up to three adjacent seats for your family or friends.
If your entry is not successful at First Judging, you will have the opportunity to purchase two tickets (for you and a family member or friend) in the ‘Designer Seating Section’ on Awards Night.
Designers will be notified the process for purchasing their show tickets when they receive their judging results letters on Friday 20 July 2018.