Dawn Mostow & Snow Winters, United States. “Digital Ascension of Kitsune,” Gold Section. 2023 International Design Award: Overall Winner, 2023 International Design Award: Americas, 2023 Gold Section Winner
Each year, the World of Wearable Art Show attracts talented designers from around the world to showcase their creative talents. Over a three-week competition in Wellington, New Zealand, artists are challenged to create a variety of stunning works centered around six chosen themes. While three of these—Aotearoa, Avant-Garde, and Open—repeat annually, 2023 featured an additional three sections unique to the year—Bizarre Bra, Gold, and Mars & Beyond. Following a fashion show spectacular that is full of theatrical displays, a few costumes came out on top.
American designers Dawn Mostow and Snow Winters put together the Digital Ascension of Kitsune for the Gold section of the competition. It features a person in a gold full-body suit with nine voluptuous tails curled around its body in various ways. The figure sports an angular mask that is supposed to resemble a fox, and long, claw-like nails. “The mischievous nine-tailed fox spirit, a thousand years old, ascends to digital heaven,” states its official description. Not only did this ensemble take home first prize in Gold, it was also called the 2023 International Design Award: Overall Winner, as well as the winner of the International Design Award: Americas.
Another stand-out work from this year was New Zealander Craig McMillan’s submission for the Aotearoa section, called Childhood. The costume resembles a realistic insect, and the model of the suit even crawled along the stage to give the full effect of a critter. Taking home the prize in the Avant-Garde section was Antonaneta Tica’s Love Me Tender. The large heart shape made up of various pens and objects references how “society pushes us to fall in love with more and more objects, then to buy them for a happier life.”
Scroll down to see more amazing costumes from this year’s WOW show.
The 2023 World of Wearable Art Show is a three-week competition in Wellington, New Zealand.
Avant-Garde section 2023
Craig McMillan, New Zealand. “Childhood,” Aotearoa section (Winner)
Gold section 2023
It gives talented designers the opportunity to showcase elaborate designs on the world stage.
Avant-Garde section 2023
The six themes of 2023 were Aotearoa, Avant-Garde, Open, Bizarre Bra, Gold, and Mars & Beyond.
Open section 2023
Over $185,000 NZD in prize money and 33 awards are given to the finalist designers.
Erna Van der Wat, Joanne Van Wyk, & Lena Van der Wat, New Zealand. “Blooming Proof!”, Mars & Beyond (Winner), Stuff People’s Choice Award
Kristy Kirkpatrick & David Kirkpatrick, New Zealand. “Groundbreaking,” Bizarre Bra (Winner)
The overall winner of the 2023 show was the costume Digital Ascension of Kitsune by American designers Dawn Mostow and Snow Winters.
Antoaneta Tica, Romania. “Love Me Tender,” Avant-garde section (Winner)
Gill Saunders, New Zealand. “Earthling,” Open section (Winner) and Supreme WOW Award
Mars & Beyond section 2023
Mars & Beyond section 2023
Open section 2023