2019 WOW exhibition opens

The National WOW Museum’s new exhibition of finalist garments from the 2019 World of WearableArt Awards Show opened to the public on Friday, 29 November. The 2019 World of WearableArt Exhibition showcases more than 50 garments by 53 designers from 11 countries and regions, including the winner of the 2019 Supreme WOW Award and other major award winners, including Motueka’s Meg Latham’s ‘Dress Up Dolls’ which was awarded second in the Transform section.

Also new to the National WOW Museum within the exhibition is a Retrospective Bizarre Bra Section where Bizarre Bras will be showcased from the World of WearableArt’s historical collection, along with AV from previous shows. The garments come to Nelson from the 2019 World of WearableArt Awards Show where they were seen on stage in Wellington by around 60,000 people over the three-week show season in September/ October this year. The exhibition references the six sections in the 2019 Competition – Aotearoa, Open, Avant-garde, White, Mythology and Transform, and allows visitors to see the detail of each garment.

WOW Chief Executive Gisella Carr says the exhibition is the perfect way to see up close the world’s best wearable art. “The 2019 World of WearableArt Exhibition features the outstanding work of wearable art designers from around the world and epitomises the heart of WOW – that anyone can enter, as long as they can meet the challenge to create a piece of wearable art that is original, innovative and truly exceptional. As is the case every year, this year’s Competition attracted designers from all walks of life and from across the world, ranging from fashion designers and artists who sit alongside firsttime entrants who do not have a traditional design experience but have an extraordinary idea and the ability to execute it beautifully.”

The 2019 World of WearableArt Exhibition includes the 2019 Supreme WOW Award winner, The Lady Warrior by