What started out in Nelson some years ago as a fundraiser has turned into both a fashion event for inspired artists and a must-attend event for the viewing public. When the Wearable Art Awards outgrew Nelson a new venue was needed and Wellington is now the home of the World of Wearable Art shows or WOW as it is commonly known.

Of those children that entered the competition very few were boys. It’s the girls that love the idea of dressing up and although most of the work was done by both parents and children, all the children had to have had the original idea.  Some of the designs, when viewed from a distance, looked like normal clothes. It was only when you had a closer look at the children's costumes that you realised that your eyes had deceived you. Take a look at Elspeth, dressed in her elegant white dress and crowning headpiece. Now look more closely – her crown is made from baby bottles and her dress, white cloth nappies. Then there is the Cleopatra-look-alike, Martina – her dress and headpiece is made out of the local newspaper. This costume was one of the semi-finalists in the Matakana School competition, and Martina went on to compete with the adult designers later in the month. And that elegant white dress Sophia is wearing? New World shopping bags never looked so good!

Who knows, maybe one day the children that entered will have their own models modelling their very own Wearable Art costume down the catwalks of the WOW show in Wellington.