World of WearableArt
A competition where garments must be wearable and are judged as art, staged as a theatrical show each September.
Updated 21 October 2026
Suzie Moncrieff started WearableArt in 1987 as a small event in a Nelson gallery, on the idea of taking art off the wall and putting it on the body. It grew to the point where it outgrew Nelson and moved to Wellington in 2005, and it now runs for several weeks each September and October as a full theatrical production - lighting, choreography, music, a cast, and garments entered from dozens of countries in sections including an Illumination category judged in the dark. Entries are made from anything: metal, wood, paper, recycled plastic, wire, bone. The rule that keeps it honest is that the piece must be wearable and must be able to move down a runway on a person. Until May 2020 the WOW Museum in Nelson, where it started, showed a rotating selection of winning garments alongside a collection of classic cars; the garment museum closed then, and the cars reopened on the same site in August 2020 as the Nelson Classic Car Museum.
History
Suzie Moncrieff founded the World of Wearable Arts Awards in Nelson in 1987, to "take art off the walls and adorn the body in wildly wonderful ways"; the first show, at the William Higgins Gallery, drew 200 people. It moved to the Trafalgar Centre in 1990 and, having outgrown Nelson, to Wellington in 2005 (Wikipedia, World of Wearable Art).
The main sights
- The staged show - a full theatrical production, not a catwalk.
- The Illumination section - garments judged in darkness.
- The materials - metal, wood, paper, bone, recycled plastic.
- The Nelson origins - the town where the show began; its garment museum closed in 2020.
When to go
September to October for the show in Wellington - tickets go on sale months ahead and sell strongly. The garment museum in Nelson closed in May 2020.
Good to know
The show is expensive and books out; Wellington accommodation rises accordingly during the season. It is a theatrical production rather than a fashion show, which some people expect and others do not.
Nearby
The show is at the TSB Arena on Wellington's waterfront.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q8036641, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for World of WearableArt
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.