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ENTER WOOLON 2024

TIME TO CREATE

Information for Designers

Welcome to the annual WoolOn Awards for 2024.

WoolOn is one of New Zealand’s iconic fashion events, encouraging both new and experienced designers to create visual, wearable pieces using New Zealand's most sustainable wool fibres. The wool fibre definition has been expanded to include alpaca, cashmere, angora goat and mohair along with the traditional sheep.

Thinking about the current economic situation and the time and expense of creating these magnificent pieces, WoolOn will continue to encourage designers to re-enter creations that have been shown in another competition prior to entering WoolOn Creative Fashion Awards provided it has not won or placed in the same category entered or overall.

Another update will be for the young designers, details are still being finalised however we will be introducing 3 Young Designer awards for those Under 12 (primary), Under 18 (secondary) and Under 25 (uni) students.

There has also been an update to the Categories and Awards for the 2024 event - see below for details.

This year we are welcoming entries for the following categories:

Streetwear - A versatile daytime outfit with strong directional modern looks
Avant-Garde - A garment that delights in the unconventional and unexpected
Special Occasion - A glamorous outfit for formal occasions or special events
Collections - Three complete cohesive looks with a common design theme
Machine-Crafted - Designs created using machinery to knit, weave or sew. The garment is created with the use of the machine, not by hand crafting.
Toi Tu ki Uruuruwhenua - Draw inspiration from culture across Aotearoa
Hand-Crafted - Innovative use of hand-crafted techniques including knit, crochet, needlepoint and felt.
Accessories - Design and hand-crafted shoes, jewellery, scarves, wraps/ capes or headwear
Sustainable Wool - Use pre-loved wool, garments or reintroduce a previous entry *(see t's & c's) to forge new ground that’s innovative and fashion-forward
Pink Wool Plaster Challenge - create something unusual with the use of donated pink wool plasters.

2024 Awards:

Novice
Technique Award
Menswear Award
Peoples Choice Award
U25 Emerging Designer Award
U18 Young Designer Award
U12 School Designer Award
1st and 2nd Runner Up Awards
Supreme Award

All categories include both male and female design.

Awards for Under 18 and Under 12 designers will be announced at the Matinee event.

MORE DETAIL

2024 Design Categories

STREETWEAR

A versatile daytime outfit with strong directional modern looks.
Casual and comfortable alone won’t be enough to impress in this category. Inspirational influences could include cross-cultural references or collaborations of evolving local and international themes.

To create your own modern and edgy look consider mixing texture, proportion and colour in unexpected ways or consider the addition of light-hearted pieces, features of bold colours, graphics or even a touch of bling. This doesn’t rule out understated elegance in neutrals. If that is your preference then score high with sharp fashion-forward styling and impeccable construction and fit.

AVANT- GARDE
A garment that delights in the unconventional and unexpected.
In the telling of a story, this outfit showcases creativity, innovation, and uniqueness. Not necessarily wearable in conventional situations, but an artwork on its own with maximum impact. A work of art that adorns the body and delights the crowd.

SPECIAL OCCASION
A glamorous outfit for formal occasions or special events.
Showcasing confidence and quality that takes presentation to higher levels of sophistication. Combine classic elements with a contemporary edge to fit the elegance and sophistication of a special occasion. Whether it’s for a bridal party, race day, an indulgent evening or a red carpet appearance, it will offer flattering silhouettes and an unwavering commitment to quality in both tailoring and use of high-end fabrics or yarn.

COLLECTIONS
Three complete cohesive looks with a common design theme.
This open styled category provides the ultimate in creative freedom. Designers are encouraged to go it alone, combine with other designers to reduce the workload or combine with others to stimulate collaborative inspiration. Materials, colour or texture bring your collection together with subtle or extreme variations, however, the styling of the collection must be cohesive. You’ll be rewarded by having all three garments modelled together on the catwalk, maximising the impact of your designs to the delight of the audience. The entry can comprise three men’s garments, three women’s garments or any combination of those.

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MACHINE CRAFTED
Designs created using machinery to knit or sew. Entries are created with the use of the machine.
While the scope of the design is open, the quality of workmanship and creativity is wide. The idea to separate the workmanship of 'by hand' and 'by machine'. A garment in this section will be constructed with the use of sewing or knitting machines using woven or fully fashioned knit. At least 75% of the entry will be created by machine.

TOI TU KI URUURUWHENUA
Choose to draw inspiration from culture across Aotearoa New Zealand including Te Ao Maˉori, that may involve traditional handcraft techniques and / or symbolism. 75% of fibres used are to be wool, the remainder can be made up of other medium from our whenua.

ACCESSORIES
Design and hand-crafted shoes, jewellery, scarves, wraps/ capes or headwear.
Garments entered in this category will be assessed for both design flair and a demonstration of innovative means of challenging traditional perceptions will be a plus.
Please note: Designers may supply garments to be worn with their accessory on the catwalk, if nothing is provided the accessory will be shown on the catwalk by models wearing black.

HAND CRAFTED: FELTED, HAND KNITTED, CROCHETED, HAND STITCHED, NEEDLEPOINT.
Get creative and innovative with use of these handcrafted techniques.
Join the resurgence in popularity for hand-crafts and challenge people’s preconception of these time-honoured traditions. Think fresh and modern. For this category, a minimum of 75% of the garment must be handcrafted, other mediums or construction methods can make up the remainder of the garment.

SUSTAINABLE WOOL: RE-USED, RECYCLED, REPURPOSED
Use pre-loved wool to forge new ground that’s innovative and fashion-forward.
Showcasing wool’s long life and versatility as a fibre, items entered in this category will be made from wool that is being given a second life as a fashion garment. For this category, a minimum of 75% of the garment must be made from recycled wool. Judges will be looking for innovative up-cycling with designer flair.

PINK PLASTER COMPETITION

For school kids (U15) and other designers who wish to take on the challenge - 2 prizes.

Use your imagination and design an extroidernary creation using bright pink plasters donated to WoolOn by WoolAid. Where will the pink wool plaster take you!

ENTER NOW

MORE DETAIL

2024 Awards

NOVICE
This prize will be awarded to the designers who has not entered any previous competition, including WoolOn or any other textile competition. Garments may be constructed using either hand or machined techniques, utilizing any of the themes outlined in WoolOn’s categories and 75% of the garment must be constructed from wool materials. Judges will be looking for design flair and workmanship, but at a level that is appropriate for a first time entrant.

TECHNIQUE AWARD
The entry across all categories that is judged best use of technique. All entries are eligible for this award. The judges will be assisted by technical advisors and will be looking for technical excellence with innovative use of a wool crafting technique or technique.

MENSWEAR AWARD
The Entry across all categories that is judged most innovative and fashion forward outfit for men. All menswear entries are eligible for this award. The judges will be looking for directional designs exhibiting strong awareness for contemporary fashion. With a focus on fashion’s future, designers will be rewarded for experimentation and thoughtful re-imagining of traditional menswear.

PEOPLES CHOICE AWARD
Open to all entries across all categories this award goes to the favourite entry as voted by the public Entry forms will be inside programmes to be submitted each evening, winners will be announced.

U25 EMERGING DESIGNER AWARD
This prize will be awarded to the designer highlighting excellence in the following areas across all categories. Designs should be highly directional and exhibit strong awareness of contemporary fashion. With a focus on fashion’s future, designers will be rewarded for experimentation and thoughtful re-imagining or subversions for the rules of fashion as we know it. In acknowledging that the industry requires emerging designers to have a broad range of skills, designers eligible for this award must design AND construct the garment without assistance from others. Designers must be under 25 on the day of the awards show.

U12 SCHOOL AND U18 YOUNG DESIGNER AWARDS
This prize will be awarded to the designer highlighting excellence in the following areas across all categories. With focus clearly on the design process, designers must present a concept board, showing their inspiration for colour, fabric, technique, and how it came together as a cohesive design. Designers will be rewarded for experimentation and thoughtful re-imagining or subversions for the rules of fashion as we know it. In acknowledging that the industry requires young designers to grow in confidence, designers eligible for this award must design the garment without assistance from others, but may have assistance to complete the garment.
Designers must be enrolled at a primary or secondary school on the day of the awards show and be the age or under at entries closing date.

SUPREME AWARD
All entries are eligible for this award.
The winning garment will represent excellence in creativity and originality, use of mediums, construction and will possess an overall WOW factor!