Award for bony dress

Dunedin artist and Dunedin Museum of Natural Mystery director Bruce Mahalski (inset top) and Wellington wearable arts designer Fifi Colston (inset bottom) teamed up to create a garment which won the 2022 World of WearableArt (Wow) Aotearoa section and was runnerup in the Supreme Wow Award at Wellington’s TSB Arena on Friday night.

The outfit, titled Fera Dei, features animal skulls and bones.

The Supreme Wow Award winner was

Hawke’s Bay artist Kate MacKenzie with her garment, titled Wanton

Widow. It is the second time she has won the award.

They were among 21 award winners in this year’s competition, in which more than $185,000 of prize money was on offer, across three recurring sections —

Aotearoa, avantgarde and open

— as well as three new sections in 2022 — architecture,

Elizabethan era and monochromatic.

For the next three weeks, 88 finalist entries by 103 designers, representing 20 countries and regions around the world, will be on display at the TSB Arena.