Wellington is once again alive with creativity as the extravagant World of WearableArt unfolds for 2025. This spectacular event showcases 85 remarkable creations from designers around the globe, highlighting some of the most intricate and vivid costumes seen today. Over 100 designers from 17 different nations competed for an impressive prize pool exceeding $200,000 New Zealand dollars, spread across 25 different awards. The competition peaked in a grand performance, with the coveted WOW Supreme Award presented to the talented design duo, Dawn Mostow and Ben Gould.
Challenging returning finalists since 2017, this marks the pair’s first triumphant win. Their creation, “Tsukumogami,” is deeply inspired by Mostow’s experience in Japan, intertwining elements of Japanese folklore with traditional craftsmanship. The piece features two avant-garde figures, completely cloaked in blue-and-white latex, reminiscent of classical vases, complemented by beautiful ikebana floral arrangements adorning their heads.
The runner-up award went to Fifi Colston for her extraordinary piece titled “Meine Erste Liebe,” which translates to “my first love” in German. This striking creation transforms the wearer into a mesmerizing medusa, featuring an exquisitely detailed bodice, a globular headdress, and a bell-shaped skirt adorned with intricate jellyfish designs.
2025 World of WearableArt Show: RISE is currently captivating audiences through October 5 at TSB Arena in Wellington. To uncover more about the event and explore an archive of previous designs, visit the contest’s official website.
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