Waikato WOWs the judges
They’ve made dresses from tennis balls and bras from paperclips, what will Waikato’s WOW finalists think of next?
Copper shim and stainless steel are unusual materials of choice for fashion designers, but for three Waikato creatives the weirder, the better.
The three have wowed the World of Wearable arts judges and made it through to the 2017 finals with their designs.
Jenny Jack, Lisa Vanin, and Darren Wise will be showcasing their designs in front of nearly 60,000 people.
This is Vanin’s third finalist entry since 2014, and Jack’s fourth.
Jenny Jack has been passionate about fashion and art since a young age, working as a designer and pattern maker in Hamilton.
Jack, and her sister-in-law and fellow finalist Vanin fell in love with the wearable art concept when they visited WOW together in 2012.
“I think going to WOW awakened something within us,” says Jack.
She first entered WOW in 2014 and became a finalist.
“For me this was the start of an annual addiction.”
Jack admits that she struggles to find the time to bring her ideas to life, which in the past have involved bras made from more than 17,000 paper clips, and a man’s suit made from 5000 computer keys.
Jack says she felt relieved to have been accepted as a finalist again, but her heart aches for those who missed out.
The mum of three credits her success to her mother, husband, and sisters-in-law, who have been known to rummage through recycling bins for her and support her in the early hours of morning.
Lisa Vanin has entered in the children’s section in previous years, and this year will be her first competing in the Aotearoa New Zealand section.
Her design involves bamboo veneer and copper shim, and was created at midnight while her children slept.
Vanin said it had been humbling making it as a finalist for a third year.
“Designing for WOW is a great creative outlet, a time for problem solving, a time of inspiration; there is also plenty of hard work, perseverance and long hours, and can be slightly stressful at times. But it is quite magical seeing your entry come to life on stage.”
Fellow finalist Darren Wise was invited to enter by Dame Suzie Moncle, and created his garment out of stainless steel and leather.
“Bringing all the elements together was the hardest,” said Wise of his creation.
Darren is a stainless steel sculptor, who was relieved to become a finalist, knowing his hard work paid off.
He hopes this opportunity will allow him to work on his art full time in the future.
WOW Chief executive Gisella Carr said the diversity of the entries can be seen in the designs on show, and the new techniques that evolve every year.
“We encourage and celebrate a huge range of diversity in our designers, from those with professional training and careers, to those who start with a gem of an idea, and have the courage, tenacity and sheer determination to create something extraordinary outside their own field.”
The show’s organisers have selected 103 garments by 121 designers for the World of Wearable Art finals.
The designers will compete at the 2017 WOW Awards show in Wellington from September 21.
