Past Entrants And First Timers Share Prestigious WOW Awards

Media release from WOW Ltd

Past Entrants And First Timers Share Prestigious 2011 WOW Awards

Brancott Estate Supreme WOW Award won by London-based designer

A good mix of experienced Brancott Estate World of WearableArt™ (WOW®) Awards Show designers and first time entrants across New Zealand and the world, take out awards at tonight’s prestigious WOW® Awards Show, with the Brancott Estate Supreme WOW® Award going to London-based designer and saddler Mary Wing To.

Thirty five awards were presented at tonight’s Brancott Estate WOW® Awards Show in Wellington, as well as eight honorable mentions.

WOW® founder and co-judge Suzie Moncrieff announced tonight that both top prizes went to international designers. Mary Wing To’s design Hylonome won the Brancott Estate Supreme WOW® Award and Netherland’s designer Marjolein van der Wal was Supreme runner up, with her first-ever WOW® garment Hide In My Bone Shadow.

“Hylonome is a phenomenal representation of the beautiful mythological female centaur,” says Moncrieff. “The garment is a labour in leather and of love, showing Mary’s multiple skills as a fashion designer turned saddler.

“She has used various leather crafting techniques; the entire garment is hand-crafted and hand-laced together, using 200 metres of leather lace,” she says. “Even the horse’s head is hand moulded in leather. It is absolutely beautiful close up, from afar, and in performance, and deserves its Supreme win, and its First placing in the Tourism New Zealand Avant Garde Section.”

Moncrieff also commends newcomer Marjolein van der Wal for achieving such high accolades for her first time at WOW®.

“Hide In My Bone Shadow has a very strong stage presence and colour palate and demonstrates an amazing use of the material,” Moncrieff says. “Marjolein has created a fantastic show piece, and she should be congratulated for her success at WOW®.”

Moncrieff says that Sean Purucker from California in the United States has also blown away the WOW® judges, again.

“Sean has entered 12 garments to WOW® since 2008, and in the past has won the prestigious Weta Workshop and WOW® Factor awards,” she says. “This year all three of his entries have been successful, including two First places, a Second place and an Honorable Mention, which is an incredible achievement.”

“I would have to say that there were so many incredible entries this year, that it was one of the most difficult years to judge,” she says. “The garments are of a very high standard, so we have added Honorable Mentions to some of the sections, as we felt these entries needed the recognition they deserved.

“I am also pleased that so many first time entrants have done so well in this year’s awards, showing there is a depth of new talent continually coming through WOW®”

Moncrieff says that as a region Wellington has shined on stage winning five awards and four honorable mentions.

“The Wellington region has done extremely well in tonight’s awards,” she says. “Wellington’s winners range from first time entrants, to students to professional designers and regular WOW® entrants.”

As well as from Wellington, Moncrieff says there was success for designers across New Zealand, including from: Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Hastings, New Plymouth, the Kapiti Coast, Dannevirke, Nelson, Canterbury, Wanaka and Invercargill.

“Congratulations to all winners,” she says. “We are very proud that this year’s show is of such high quality, in terms of both designs and performance.”

At the 2011 WOW® Awards Show, all winners and finalists are transported into a world of fantasy and surrealism, reminiscent of the work of the late Italian Film Director Fellini. The Show is two hours of wall-to-wall colour, energy and creativity, in a stunning choreographed performance featuring the full company of Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) dancers, professional dancers from Wellington’s Footnote Dance and the entire first year of the New Zealand School of Dance.

Every night, show goers are also treated to cameo appearances by celebrity guests – true New Zealand icons – during the Air New Zealand Kiwi Icons section.

There are still a few coveted tickets available to see this world-renowned show. To purchase go to www.worldofwearableart.com

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