Bay of Plenty residents have a rare opportunity to experience previous World of WearableArt (WOW) finalist creations up close at the Unveiled: The Digital Seam opening at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology in Tauranga tomorrow.

Running until November 6, the month-long exhibition at the institute’s Te Ara o Mauao Gallery features 22 WOW entries from 2009 to 2023, giving visitors the chance to experience some of New Zealand’s most innovative wearable artworks outside of Wellington.

Curated by 2026 WOW finalist and Toi Ohomai principal academic staff member Anne-Marie Simon, Unveiled: The Digital Seam features garments by six wearable art designers.

Highlights include Tauranga-born designer Georgia Chalmers-Jones’ The Golden Age of Queens, winner of the 2023 WOW New Zealand Designer Award; Béatrice Carlson’s Marquise Rāwahi, winner of the 2012 WOW South Pacific Award; and Deb Shephard’s City Lolita, winner of WOW’s Shell Sustainable Award in 2012. Donna Dinsdale’s Wāhine Toa (2022), Kerry Funnell’s DIY Divas (2019), Cherryl Marriott’s Private 11513: Reinvent the Uniform (2015), and Blue Tits: Birds of a Feather (2014) are also on display.

Unveiled: The Digital Seam opens with a special public event tomorrow from 2pm to 4.30pm, featuring a designer panel discussion and Q&A with the six exhibiting artists.

The panel will offer insights into the inspiration, creative processes and challenges behind their wearable art creations.

From Monday, the exhibition will be open weekdays from 10am to 2pm, with free admission.

Simon said Unveiled: The Digital Seam provided a rare opportunity for people to experience these extraordinary wearable artworks at close range.

“Instead of viewing these creations from a distance and in motion, the gallery setting allows visitors to closely examine the designs, intricate craftsmanship, materials and innovative construction techniques behind each work. It’s the first time several WOW pieces have collectively been displayed together in Tauranga.”

Curating the exhibition also inspired Simon’s own WOW journey.

While developing Unveiled: The Digital Seam, she was motivated to enter the 2026 WOW competition, Glo! Her creation, It Takes All Sorts, was selected as a finalist in the show’s Bizarre Bra section.

Inspired by RJ’s Licorice Allsorts, the sculptural piece features oversized lolly-inspired forms, bold colours and playful patterns.

“Curating Unveiled: The Digital Seam inspired me to challenge myself and enter WOW for the first time.

“I wanted to experience the creative process from the perspective of a WOW designer, and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome,” she said.

Unveiled: The Digital Seam
■ Opening event: Saturday, October 10, 2pm-4pm

■ Exhibition dates: Weekdays from October 12-November 6, 10am-2pm

■ Venue: Te Ara o Mauao Gallery (M Block), Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, 70 Windermere Drive, Tauranga

■ Entry: Free