Tourism New Zealand's efforts to promote the Montana World of
WearableArt (WOW) in India have paid dividends, with Indian
designers Yogesh Chaudhary and Manas Barve scooping the Supreme
Award at this year's show.
Tourism New Zealand's Regional Manager for India and South East
Asia, Kiran Nambiar, said the strong media interest in WOW made it
an ideal event for Tourism New Zealand to sponsor and promote in
India.
Tourism New Zealand works with the Fashion Design Council of
India (FDCI) and WOW organisers to promote the show to Indian
design students. Regular WOW presentations are held at design
schools around India and an annual event is held at the New Zealand
High Commission in New Delhi to select student finalists to enter
garments in the New Zealand finals of WOW.
"Tourism New Zealand has been driving the awareness of WOW in
India for close to seven years now and we have seen a consistent
increase in Indian entries," Mr Nambiar said.
"WOW is a cutting edge event that provides a perfect platform to
market New Zealand as a modern, sophisticated and exciting
destination to potential visitors from India."
Dozens of Indian media outlets attended the New Delhi finals
event in April and TNZ hosted select media in New Zealand for WOW
2010.
Tourism New Zealand's involvement in the show also includes
sponsorship of the Avant Garde award section. UK designer Richelle
Dynae Rudeen won the section with her racy entry, "The Ring
Mistress", inspired by this year's Avant Garde theme of
"Circus".
Nelson designer Gillian Saunders' entry "Rosa (Le Freak, C'est
Chic)" was awarded runner up in the Tourism New Zealand Avant Garde
section while "Lady Curiousity", entered by Wellington designer
Fifi Colston, was commended.
Honourable mentions in the Avant Garde section went to Auckland
designers Tarja Pabbruwe and Petro van Zijl for their "Trichromatic
Hula Sistars Revue" entry and Rotorua's Rachael Galuszewski for her
"Epona" garment.
Of the 191 garments chosen to go on stage in this year's show,
61 were made by international designers. Overseas entries came from
Australia, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Netherlands, the
United Kingdom, Mexico, Sri Lanka and the United States.