WOW founder sells up
‘Exciting and fulfilling adventure’ is passed on after 35 years
World of WearableArt has been sold by sisters Dame Suzie Moncrieff and Heather Palmer to a two-year-old Auckland-based company run by Hideaki Fukutake, the son of Japanese billionaire Soichiro Fukutake.
Hideaki Fukutake is based in Auckland, according to the Companies Office. His LinkedIn page says he formed a new company, Still, to ‘‘foster a world full of culture and art’’.
Moncrieff said it was the right time to bring in new guardians who would continue to grow the fashion-meets-art spectacle.
‘‘WOW for me has been an exciting and fulfilling adventure.
‘‘Heather and I have worked so hard over the past 35 years, sometimes against the odds. The Covid years were immensely challenging, and we realised it was time to step back, time for a reset for us and for WOW.’’
WOW was created in Nelson by Moncrieff in 1987. Its awards show has been attended by more than 800,000 people since then.
During the announcement made yesterday from WOW’s headquarters in Nelson, Fukutake said Still had not worked with WOW before, so he was ‘‘very excited’’.
He said he was interested in the business and process of WOW, and how it had affected New Zealand’s cultural environment over the years.
He believed WOW had strong opportunities for the future, and by buying it, Still was helping to shape the country’s long-term art landscape.
Fukutake will be joining the company’s board of directors. He said his background in the art scene in Japan and internationally meant he had a lot of experience in running art shows, which he would bring to WOW.
‘‘I strongly believe in ... WOW’s future.’’
There were no concrete plans to go ahead with past proposals, such as regional shows or a television series focused on the garment designers.
However, WOW would be open to new opportunities, he said.
There were no plans to change its creative direction at this stage.
Fukutake declined to comment on how much Still paid for WOW.
Moncrieff said talks to sell WOW started about a year ago.
Despite its relative newness as a company, Still was selected because of its investment in New Zealand’s art scene.
Moncrieff said she liked the fact that Still had invested in companies with the ability to deliver a long-term cultural impact.
She felt it was ‘‘the perfect guardian’’ for WOW.
‘‘I feel very strongly that my legacy has gone into safe hands with Still. I’m just excited about the future of WOW ... I’m looking forward to seeing the vision I had so long ago realised as it moves into the future.’’
Moncrieff and Palmer said the sale would not affect the structure, staffing or day-to-day operations of WOW, or the annual awards show being held in Wellington over the next five years.
The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the WOW shows being cancelled in 2020 and last year.
Also in 2020, the National WOW Museum in Nelson closed because of Covid-related impacts, and WOW chief executive David Tingey slashed the organisation’s Nelson-based workforce from 30 people to 10.
Despite these setbacks, this year’s show was a sellout.
Moncrieff said she was immensely proud of what WOW had achieved.
‘‘I have always had big dreams for WOW ... That vision is shared by the new owners,’’ she said.
‘‘And I have every confidence that Still’s aligned values, connections to the wider arts ecosystem and long-term focus will enable WOW to thrive for generations to come.’’
Fukutake helped to create the Benesse Art Site Naoshima, an art project developed on the small islands of Naoshima, Teshima and Inujima in Japan.
He became a New Zealand resident and citizen in 2009, the same year the Fukutake family moved here.
He said he was very aware that acquiring the ‘‘national treasure’’ that was World of WearableArt carried significant cultural responsibility. ‘‘We know how important WOW is to New Zealand, and we are passionate about ensuring it lasts well into the future – for at least another 35 years and beyond.’’
Other New Zealand companies Fukutake has acquired include Kings Plant Barn, Hulbert House, Shape Group and Consult Recruitment NZ.
He plans to host an event at the Auckland Art Gallery this week to thank people and to officially launch Still.