Find out what the WOW Judges are looking for

Competition

Garments

Resources

Judging Criteria

Originality and Innovation

Documental, Bethany Cordwell, Australia

The judges are looking for a garment that will surprise them and demonstrates design from a fresh perspective that they haven’t seen before. The judges are looking for exploration of an idea/concept and uniqueness of materials and design.

Concept

Clotho – the Goddess of Fate, Anna von Hartitzsch, United Kingdom

Does the garment meet the brief for the section it has been entered into? The garment must be a complete concept and clearly portray the designer’s interpretation of the section theme.

Quality of Construction

Wanton Widow, Kate MacKenzie, New Zealand

A high standard of workmanship is essential. The garment finish should be immaculate, inside and out. Your garment should look as good up close, as it does from a distance. Garments may be worn multiple times and need to accommodate easy movement as well as being strong enough to cope with choreography.

Health and Safety

Resilience, Monica Ivena, Indonesia

Judges will consider whether a garment is safe for a model to wear and perform in. Models must be able to see clearly and breathe easily whilst onstage under stage lighting. Garment weight must be evenly distributed so the garment is comfortable to perform in. All footwear must be robust, well-balanced, and safe for a model to wear.

Performance Potential

The Messenger, Dawn Mostow & Lana Crooks, United States

Judges will consider how a garment will look on stage with choreography and lighting.

The Judging Process

Finalist garments are first selected and then judged through a two stage judging process.

Finalist Selection: Garments are first chosen in an online Preliminary Selection stage based on video and photography, and the garment narrative and construction information. Designer name and country is not revealed to the selection panel. Entries chosen at Preliminary Selection have a high chance of becoming finalists. The chosen garments are invited to be sent to WOW in Nelson for assessment. Final Selection (previously known as First Judging) is where garments are assessed across several criteria and, if they meet the standard, they are verified as a Finalist.

Judging: Award-winners are identified through two rounds of closed judging. Closed judging means that the judges are aware of the garment name, and the inspiration behind the work of art, however the designers’ details are not disclosed.

First is Preliminary Judging, which happens in Wellington once the garments have been assigned to their WOW model. Judges see the garment up close and on stage with choreography. The Final judging occurs just before the opening of the show and Awards Night. Garments are seen on stage with full show lighting, music and performers. Awards are finalised at this stage and Final Judging determines the Supreme Winner.

Meet the judgING PANEL

Each year prizes are awarded through two rounds of closed judging. The judging panel comprises WOW Founder and Resident Judge, Dame Suzie Moncrieff, and several guest judges, from the worlds of art and fashion, who are invited to be part of the panel. The full list of 2025 Judges will be announced July 2025.

Dame Suzie Moncrieff

Creator and founder of the original WOW concept, Dame Suzie Moncrieff staged the first WOW Show in Nelson in 1987 as a promotion for a rural art gallery, based on her vision to take art off the wall and exhibit it as a live theatrical show.

Dame Suzie Moncrieff has personally received several awards for her achievements and contribution to the arts. She was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1998 and made a Dame in the 2011 New Year’s Honours.

Sir Richard Taylor

Sir Richard Taylor is the CEO and Chief Creative Officer of artisan studio Wētā Workshop. He loves to see the range of garments that come into the Competition each year, all of them displaying originality, craftsmanship, clever use of materials and a core idea from within the design that shares a story with the audience.

Sir Richard Taylor will present the Wētā Workshop Outstanding Designer Award; the winning designer receives NZ$6,000 plus the opportunity to complete an internship at Wētā Workshop which includes flights from anywhere in the world and accommodation in Wellington for up to four weeks.