The World of Wearable Art Awards is back this year in Wellington.
What's it been like for the host of international designers who finally got to attend and show their designs after a two-year wait in limbo?
The International Design Award winner at WOW 2023, by Jayati Saraf Photo: (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt)
We meet Jayati Saraf, who won the overall winner of the International Design Award for her two creations Mocarabe and Neoru.
Listen
FOLLOW Voices on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public and iHeart Radio or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Mocárabe by Jayati Saraf during the 2022 World of WearableArt Preview Show (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images for World of WearableArt) Photo: Hagen Hopkins
"The judges loved the shape of them, the volume she achieved and the clever use of colours. Something really fresh" says Kat Sprowell, head of competition at WOW, of Jayati's winning garments.
Jayati says the WOW competition is very popular amongst students at India's fashion design schools.
"In my college, there were 40 students in Delhi applying to enter WOW - it's really big, it's quite a thing there."
This year, WOW saw 88 finalist entries by 103 designers from 20 countries, many of whom applied with their entries in 2020.
"It's been 35 years but what's at the heart of it in terms of the relationships and the trust - that's the absolute magic and that hasn't changed," says Kat Sprowell.
Related:
World of Wearable Arts back on: 'Everyone is super amped'
Jacinda Ardern models at World of Wearable Arts award show