The annual World of WearableArt international design competition took place in Wellington, New Zealand, over the weekend. Designers with backgrounds in fashion, art, architecture, design, and more were invited to showcase their creative and inventive garments. Gathered below are of some of the amazing works shown this year in Wellington.
World of WearableArt 2023
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![A model displays a garment of clear material that makes it look like they are inside a big splash of water.]()
Read more"Tears Unseen" by Carena West, New Zealand, is modeled in the Open Section, after winning the Sustainability Award during the 2023 World of WearableArt Awards Night at TSB Bank Arena, in Wellington, New Zealand, on September 22, 2023. #
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![A model displays an intricate full-body costume with a faceted fox-shaped mask.]()
Read more"Digital Ascension of Kitsune" by Dawn Mostow and Snow Winters, from the United States, is shown, after winning the Gold Section, the International Design Award—Americas and the International Design Award—Overall at the 2023 World of WearableArt Awards. #
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![A model displays an elaborate upper-body garment made of two large, yellow scale-model excavators.]()
Read more"Groundbreaking" by Kristy Kirkpatrick and David Kirkpatrick, New Zealand, is modeled in the Bizarre Bra Section on September 20, 2023. #
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![A model displays a layered costume with a full head mask and long finger extensions.]()
Read more"Jeanus Terrablis" by Samantha Anderson, Australia, shown in the Mars & Beyond Section #
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![A person models a large dome-like head covering that appears to be collapsible.]()
Read more"Black Pearl" by Akhilesh Gupta and Dimple Gandhi, India #
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![A model wears a blue full-body costume covered with thousands of fingerlike appendages, looking like a huge walking shag rug.]()
Read more"Celestial Body" by Jagoda Matecka and Zofia Brunarska, from Magdalena Abakanowicz University of the Arts, Poland, seen in the Mars & Beyond Section #
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![A model poses onstage, wearing a life-size cutout-doll dress.]()
Read more"Cheeky" by Deborah Bassett, New Zealand #
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![A model displays a garment that looks like ornate golden armor.]()
Read more"Aurealis—Keeper of Infinite Wisdom" by Carolyn Gibson, New Zealand, seen in the Gold Section on September 22, 2023 #
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![A performer appears onstage wearing a robot costume.]()
Read moreAn entertainer performs during the 2023 World of WearableArt Preview Show at Wellington's TSB Bank Arena on September 20, 2023. #
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![Two models pose wearing dark and spiky costumes.]()
Read more"Industrial Chic" by Jill Perry, Australia, modeled in the Open Section on September 22, 2023 #
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![A person poses while wearing a costume covered in multiple curls and swoops of white fabric.]()
Read more"Spiral Nebula" by Galina Mihaleva, U.S. #
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![A model wears a gold-colored costume and a shiny golden mask shaped like a rabbit's head.]()
Read more"Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow" by Jackie Butterworth, New Zealand, shown in the Gold Section #
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![A model poses, wearing a broad-shouldered costume made partly of metal sheeting.]()
Read more"But the Rain Didn't Stop" by Keryn Whitney, New Zealand #
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![A person displays a bra made of two small models of zebra heads.]()
Read more"Zeebra" by Lisa Thrower, New Zealand, displayed in the Bizarre Bra Section during the 2023 World of WearableArt Awards Night. #
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![A person displays a golden costume with a feathery crest stretching from their shoulders to above their head.]()
Read more"Seraph" by Sasha Wisniowski, Australia, shown in the Gold Section #
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![A model wears a garment that looks a bit like porcelain shelving.]()
Read more"Sista Time" by Peter Wakeman, New Zealand #
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![A model displays a dress with large rounded shapes that appears to be made fabric that has been folded geometrically hundreds of times.]()
Read more"Sen no hida (1000 Folds)" by Carolyn Gibson and Joelle March, New Zealand, modeled in the Avant-garde Section on September 20, 2023 #
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![A model displays a garment that wraps around their body and appears to be made of thousands of illuminated strands and fringes.]()
Read more"Iteration" by Celia Ledon, U.S. #
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![A person displays a costume made of rigid, curved appendages that jut up and down from a wide waistband, creating a sort of curvy cage.]()
Read more"The Golden Chakra" by Akhilesh Gupta and Dimple Gandhi, India #
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![A model wears a samurai-themed costume with an antlered helmet.]()
Read more"Samurai Girl" by Chiaki Shimizu, Japan, shown in the Avant-garde Section #
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