Crafted from leather, silk, taffeta, EVA foam and cotton duc, Autumn King by Wellington designer Catherine Anderton was a crowd favourite throughout the WOW Show season thanks to its depth of detail and playful stage presence.  

A three-time WOW Competition finalist, Catherine is a previous First-Time Entrant Award winner (2009) and has placed twice in the Open section (2009 and 2010). Reflecting on her win, she says it feels beyond words.

“That the audience chose Autumn King out of all the phenomenal works at WOW this year – and that he is the one that stole their hearts – is such an incredible honour.

“I feel I owe so much to the incredible model Chris, who brought Autumn King to life in ways I could have never imagined.”

WOW Head of Competition Sarah Nathan says Autumn King, which was a finalist in the Myths & Legends section, had all the hallmarks of a crowd favourite.

“Autumn King is reminiscent of childhood fairytales – magical, beautiful and enchanting. Exquisite construction and ingenious use of materials, coupled with elements of surprise and a playful performance, made this garment really command your attention on stage; you could hear the joy it brought the audience at each show.”

Tall Poppy Real Estate Operations Manager Zara Kljakovic says it was inspiring to see so many people connect with the show and award.

"Every year, WOW reminds us how powerful creativity can be - how it moves people, brings communities together, and celebrates the magic of original thinking. We’re thrilled to present the Tall Poppy Real Estate People’s Choice Award and congratulate Catherine for capturing the hearts of audiences across Aotearoa."

Both the designer of the winning garment and an audience member who voted for the winner receive $2,500 NZD prize money. The lucky audience member who took home the $2,500 prize was Phillip D.

Congratulations Catherine and Phillip!