Awards & Prizes

Competition

Garments

Resources

Supreme WOW Award

The most prestigious award of all; given to the entry that the judges consider to be the most exceptional.

Winner

NZ$

30,000

Runner-up

NZ$

15,000

Wanton Widow, Kate MacKenzie, New Zealand

Dame Suzie Moncrieff Award

Chosen by WOW Founder, Dame Suzie Moncrieff, as the garment that epitomises the WOW spirit.

Winner

NZ$

8,000

Runner-up

NZ$

Waka Huia, Kayla Christensen, New Zealand

Fisher Funds New Zealand Design Merit Award

Fisher Funds

New Zealand Design

Merit Award

Recognising distinction in creativity and excellence in a New Zealand entry.

Winner

NZ$

8,000

Runner-up

NZ$

Kaitiaki, Lisa Vanin, New Zealand

Absolutely Positively Wellington International Design Merit Award

Recognising distinction in creativity and excellence in an international entry.

Winner

NZ$

8,000

Runner-up

NZ$

Gemini: the Twins, Dawn Mostow & Ben Gould, United States

Section Awards

Aotearoa, Avant-garde, Open, Neon, Air, and Myths & Legends.

Winner

NZ$

8,000

Runner-up

NZ$

4,000

Fera Dei, Fifi Colston & Bruce Mahalski, New Zealand

Wētā Workshop OUTSTANDING Design Award

This award is personally selected by Sir Richard Taylor, CEO and Creative Director of Wētā Workshop. The winner is offered the rare experience of spending up to four (4) weeks with the team inside the world renown Wētā Workshop. Winners of this award must demonstrate extreme creativity, obsessive attention to detail and craft, and demonstrate how to breathe character into wearable art.

NZD$6,000, plus flights from anywhere in the world plus accommodation in Wellington for up to four weeks.

Winner

NZ$

6,000

Runner-up

NZ$

The Giant Purse, Thao Nguyen, Vietnam

Sustainability Award

Recognises an entry that embraces circular economy principles by considering the life cycle of the garment from the design stage. The winning entry will exemplify how circular design drives sustainable solutions by:

- Being made from waste or renewable materials, and;

- Not becoming waste at the end of its use (that is, it can be disassembled to be practically reused, recycled, or returned to natural systems).

Winner

NZ$

8,000

Runner-up

NZ$

Haerenga (Journey), Christopher Davis, New Zealand

Accor Live Limitless First-time Entrant Award

This award recognises the creativity and originality of an entry submitted by a first-time entrant. To qualify for the First-Time Entrant Award, all members of a design team must be first-time entrants.

Winner

NZ$

8,000

Runner-up

NZ$

Hide & Seek, Mingzhang Sun, London College of Fashion, United Kingdom

Student DISTINCTION Award

This award recognises an entry submitted by a current tertiary student or recent graduate. To qualify for the Student Distinction Award, all members of a design team must be current tertiary students or have graduated within the 12 months before entering

Winner

NZ$

8,000

Runner-up

NZ$

Kaleidoscope, Tess Tavener Hanks, University of Technology Sydney, Australia

Transformation Innovation Award

This award recognizes an entry that inspires awe using the element of surprise. This may be achieved through transformation, innovative design, performative elements or with the use of technology.

Winner

NZ$

8,000

Runner-up

NZ$

Sea Urchin Explosion, Jack Irving, United Kingdom

Great Journeys New Zealand Designer Development Award

This award supports a designer through a professional development opportunity relating to their chosen field of creative practice. The award winner is selected on an application that outlines the designers’ creative or technical ambitions and presents an exciting opportunity to pursue professional development that can be applied to their wearable art practice.

Winner

NZ$

8,000

Runner-up

NZ$

Tall Poppy People's Choice Award

The winner of this award is chosen by the show audience via an online voting system. The Tall Poppy People’s Choice Award is announced after the conclusion of the show season.

Winner

NZ$

2,500

Runner-up

NZ$