{"id":1939,"date":"2025-09-22T14:29:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T14:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/?p=1939"},"modified":"2025-09-23T16:12:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T16:12:06","slug":"cultural-narratives-and-craft-converge-in-the-2025-world-of-wearableart-competition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/22\/cultural-narratives-and-craft-converge-in-the-2025-world-of-wearableart-competition\/","title":{"rendered":"Cultural Narratives and Craft Converge in the 2025 World of WearableArt Competition"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Cultural Narratives and Craft Converge in the 2025 World of WearableArt Competition\" class=\"lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/wow-11.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>Wellington\u2019s extravagant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldofwearableart.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">World of WearableArt<\/a> is back for 2025, including pieces by 85 finalists that showcase today\u2019s most elaborate and <a href=\"\/tags\/world-of-wearableart\">fanciful costumes<\/a>. One hundred designers from 17 countries competed for a prize pool of more than $200,000 New Zealand dollars across 25 awards. The competition culminates in an elaborate performance, with this year\u2019s top honor, known as the WOW Supreme Award, handed to design duo Dawn Mostow and Ben Gould.<\/p>\n<p>The U.S.-based designers have been finalists several times since 2017, and this marks their first win. Mostow and Gould\u2019s piece \u201cTsukumogami\u201d draws on Mostow\u2019s time living in Japan, nodding to the country\u2019s folklore and craft traditions through a reference to <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tsukumogami\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mythological tools<\/a> that can be imbued with a spirit, or a <em>kami. <\/em>Two figures completely covered in blue-and-white latex stand like elaborate classical vases, with <em>ikebana <\/em>flower arrangements on their heads.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"2025 World of WearableArt Show: RISE\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5PPhPJExQqE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>This year\u2019s runner-up is Fifi Colston\u2019s \u201cMeine Erste Liebe,\u201d a title which means \u201cmy first love\u201d in German. The wearer is transformed into a medusa, with an elaborate bodice and globular headdress, plus an elaborate, bell-like skirt embellished with detailed jellyfish.<\/p>\n<p><em>2025 World of WearableArt Show: RISE<\/em> performances continue through October 5 at TSB Arena in Wellington. Explore more, including an archive of pieces from earlier shows, on the contest\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldofwearableart.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1752\" height=\"1140\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"elaborate costumes inspired by blue-and-white vases, worn by two performer on stage\" class=\"wp-image-462484 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/wow-10.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Dawn Mostow and Ben Gould (United States), \u201cTsukumogami\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1359\" height=\"1252\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"an elaborate costume with a globe-like headpiece, worn by a performer on stage\" class=\"wp-image-462480 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/wow-6.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Fifi Colston (New Zealand), \u201cMeine Erste Liebe\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1731\" height=\"1154\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"two glowing, blue, elaborate costume worn by performers on stage\" class=\"wp-image-462478 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/wow-4.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Evita Camilleri and Dan Draper (Australia), \u201cFractilians\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1607\" height=\"1192\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"an elaborate costume of an eagle-like creature representing fall, worn by a performer on stage\" class=\"wp-image-462475 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/wow-1.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Catherine Anderton (New Zealand), \u201cAutumn King\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1157\" height=\"1158\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"an elaborate costume in geometric black-and-white forms, worn by a performer on stage\" class=\"wp-image-462482 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/wow-8-e1758548865133.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Vanshika Jain (Indian Institute of Art and Design, India), \u201cStripy Mischief\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1731\" height=\"1154\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"an elaborate costume worn by a performer on stage, glowing under black light\" class=\"wp-image-462476 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/wow-2.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Katherine Bertram (New Zealand), \u201cDrift\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1798\" height=\"1242\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"an elaborate costume worn by a performer on stage\" class=\"wp-image-462483 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/wow-9.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Abhishek Chauhan (India), \u201cThaliora\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1285\" height=\"1310\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"an elaborate costume worn by a performer on stage\" class=\"wp-image-462477 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/wow-3.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Xuan Jiang, Yuxin Zhou, and Yuhan Lin (Donghua University, China), \u201cEmber\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1520\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"an elaborate costume worn by a performer on stage\" class=\"wp-image-462479 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/wow-5-e1758548952725.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Anna Hayes-Moeau (New Zealand), \u201cKo Au Ko Harakeke, Ko Harakeke Ko Au\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1731\" height=\"1154\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"an elaborate costume with Japanese writing on the fabric, glowing under black light, worn by a performer on stage\" class=\"wp-image-462481 lazyload\" data-src=\"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/wow-7.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Tracey Murphy and Isabel Costley (New Zealand), \u201cSee Me in Tokyo\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\">Colossal Member<\/a> today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/09\/2025-world-of-wearableart-competition-costume-design\/\">Cultural Narratives and Craft Converge in the 2025 World of WearableArt Competition<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\">Colossal<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wellington\u2019s extravagant World of WearableArt is back for 2025, including pieces by 85 finalists that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1942,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1939"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1939"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1939\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1968,"href":"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1939\/revisions\/1968"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.beatlesfansunite.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}