Anything to declare?

The World of WearableArt returns this month with dozens of costume creators from around the globe who have previously made the pilgrimage. We surveyed some about what keeps them coming back to Wellington.

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They have come with their unusual luggage from around the world for decades – since the early days in Nelson before the World of WearableArt shifted to become Wellington’s biggest annual arts event. The overseas contingent of costume creators now makes up half the entrants. Many come back year after year – that is, if they received the email in July saying they’ve made the cut for the planet’s premier wearable art competition. We asked some returning finalists from across the waters why they do it – and how they pack it

GRACE DUVAL

Returning this year for her eighth time, Duval is a seven-times finalist and, in 2024, won the Avant-garde section and Supreme Award. She's from Boston, US.

The first time

I first entered WOW in 2009, aged 20. I had participated in a local wearable art show at my university and immediately fell in love - I knew instantly that wearable art was what I was meant to make, so I went to the internet to see what other shows I could enter. WOW was the first result and as soon as I saw how spectacular the show was I knew I had to enter. I got very lucky - my university covered all my expenses to enter WOW and travel to the show. The overwhelming theatrical spectacle of it, combined with the jaw-dropping wearable art, solidified for me that this was where I belonged. I believe that was the year a disco ball VW bug lowered from the ceiling and a bunch of body builders emerged from it to dance in the audience.

The commitment