World of WearableArt — known as WOW — is one of the most extraordinary arts events in the world and New Zealand's most internationally celebrated creative competition. Held annually in Wellington in September and October, it brings together wearable art garments from designers across New Zealand and around the globe for a theatrical stage show of breathtaking scale, creativity and spectacle that has no equivalent anywhere else on earth.
The competition began in Nelson in 1987 as a small local event and has grown into a globally recognised phenomenon, attracting entries from dozens of countries and audiences from across New Zealand and beyond who come to Wellington specifically for the show. Each garment is a work of art in its own right — constructed from extraordinary materials, embodying conceptual ideas and executed with craftsmanship that ranges from the delicate to the monumental. On stage, they become part of a theatrical production that combines choreography, lighting, music and performance to create something genuinely unlike anything else.
For visitors to Wellington in September and October, WOW is one of those rare events that genuinely exceeds expectations. It is not simply a fashion show or an art exhibition but a total experience — joyful, mind-expanding and deeply proud of the creativity and imagination that New Zealand brings to the world.