It is not a coincidence that Nelson has thrown up this unique spectacular. This is all about throwing art off the walls and wearing it on the body. Anyone can enter a garment and only your imagination knows limitations.
Tonight's Supreme Award rightfully belongs to 18-year-old designer, Claire Prebble, from nearby Golden Bay, a shy talent who spent four months creating her ethereal entry, Eos. The stunning fabrication of woven sterling silver, copper, beads and silk was inspired by the Greek goddess of dawn.

Nelson, New Zealand's sunniest city located at the top of South Island, hit upon an idea that pushed the imagination of participants and spectators alike and the Montana World of WearableArt Awards (WOW) are now all set to go international, reports Shirin Mehta

A Verve Exclusive

Claire Prebble with Shirin Mehta

I recall this moment, a day later, this time settled into a not-terribly-comfortable seat at the Trafalgar Centre on Paru Paru Road, Nelson. Already the beauty of this city of 50,000 has lulled my senses - the cold is bracing, the acacia trees are

brilliantly in bloom, the Nelsonites are amazingly friendly and ready to prattle. Everyone I meet here seems to be an artist - a budding one, a current one or a happening one.

And, they are all rattling on about the show that has New Zealand reeling. The Montana World of WearableArt Awards Show (WOW) is the biggest thing to hit this faraway set of islands, technically under Down Under and small-town Nelson, is understandably proud of it. It has, in fact, broken boundaries, grown seemingly on its own and is now headed for the capital city, Wellington, where locations are larger and big-town facilities more readily available. More, the 'WearableArt' concept is headed for international shores - probably big-city Bangkok or Singapore to coincide with their Fashion Weeks.

Margaret Johnston

Even as I ask myself why there is so much art in this corner of the world, I realise that it is not a coincidence that Nelson has thrown up this unique spectacular. This is all about taking art off the walls and wearing it on the body. Anyone can enter a garment and only your imagination knows limitations. These are then presented in a fully choreographed stage show - music, dance, drama - forming the backdrop of presentation. On a widely-extending ramp and stage in front of me, unfolds a kaleidoscope of events and happenings - there are beautifully wound-up skits, fabulous dances, snatches of opera, comic interludes - that seamlessly merge into each other. Winding skilfully through this extravaganza of the senses, is the procession of wearable art entries from New Zealand and now increasingly from other parts of the world including Thailand and Australia.

Suzie Moncrief

The choice of judges at this year's show is truly interesting. Dan Hennah, who won an Oscar for his set decoration in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, took time out from working on Peter Jackson's production of King Kong, to judge the awards. Simon Hames, prop maker for The Lord of the Rings, is already known to WOW audiences as the creator of the 1999 Supreme Award winner, Superminx, which we appreciate on a video presentation as a mischievous and sprightly pair of Opossom 'chairs'. Margarita Robertson is the designer behind Dunedin based fashion label Nom D. which is taking New Zealand style to the world, a star at the Air New Zealand Fashion Week held in Auckland.

At the WearableArt and Classic Car Museum, in Nelson, a complex that reflects the wearable art success story, a moving conveyor belt succinctly displays the history of the concept. Over-the-top entries, past winners and outstanding garments bear silent witness to those who have drawn out their imaginative boundaries, to the utmost. Next door, in the Collectable Car Museum, art and cars collide in a well-presented exhibition gallery. Here, some of the finest and rarest examples of automobile design from the early 20th century to the present day, are arranged in themed sets, complete with sound effects and lighting, effectively integrating classic cars and wearable art.

Tonight's Supreme Award rightfully belongs to 18-year-old designer, Claire Prebble, from nearby Golden Bay, a shy talent who spent four months creating her ethereal entry, Eos. The stunning fabrication of woven sterling silver, copper, beads and silk was inspired by the Greek goddess of dawn. Prebble first entered the contest as an eight-year-old, a finalist in the children's section. Her creation is no less than a piece of exquisite jewellery, I realise, as I see it gliding tenuously on stage. Prebble is sitting in front of me, facing international TV cameras with a confidence born of sudden fame. Here in Nelson and in all of New Zealand, she is the new celebrity.

My questioning mind has been stilled in the midst of such panorama - visual and aesthetic. The long journey, I have to admit, was worth it.