A Tauranga creative academic has been selected as a finalist in this year’s World of WearableArt (WOW) Awards Show, with her work currently being showcased in Wellington.
Anne-Marie Simon’s wearable art creation, It Takes All Sorts, features in the WOW Glo! show’s Bizarre Bra category. Inspired by RJ’s Licorice Allsorts, the sculptural bra is constructed from oversized, lolly-inspired forms. Bright blocks of colour, stripes, dots and zigzags combine to create a high-impact visual spectacle.
Simon, who teaches fashion design as an Academic Staff Member at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s Tauranga campus, says It Takes All Sorts explores individuality and coexistence.
“Although each allsort is unique in colour, texture and shape, together they create something instantly recognisable, nostalgic, and oddly comforting. No two elements are the same, yet none overpower the others. Harmony is achieved through difference.”
Simon says she is honoured to have been selected as a 2026 WOW finalist, alongside designers from around the world.
“Reaching the WOW finals is recognition of the many hours of experimentation, design, development and craftsmanship that go into creating a wearable art piece,” she says. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see my research, teaching and creative practice come together at such a significant event. It’s been a blast travelling to Wellington, meeting other finalists from around the world, taking part in networking events and experiencing the behind-the-scenes activities that WOW provides, including a backstage tour.”
While this is Anne-Marie Simon’s first-time entering WOW, her career spans more than 20 years in the fashion industry and more than 17 years in tertiary education. She has previously been a finalist in the Parkin Drawing Prize, the Miles Art Awards and this year’s Rotorua Art Awards.
As an educator, Simon believes it is important to continue challenging herself creatively and professionally while leading by example for her ākonga (students).
“Entering WOW demonstrates to my students that learning doesn’t stop after graduation and that taking creative risks can lead to unexpected opportunities. Remaining connected and actively contributing to the creative community is equally important. It enables me to bring current industry knowledge, real-world experiences and practical insights directly back to the classroom at Toi Ohomai,” she says.
WOW’s Bizarre Bra category is only open for entries every second year. Simon says she was inspired to enter the 2026 competition while curating Unveiled: The Digital Seam, an upcoming creative exhibition at Te Ara o Mauao Gallery on Toi Ohomai’s Tauranga campus.
“Unveiled: The Digital Seam is set to open in October. It features a selection of previous WOW finalist pieces. Exploring the work of wearable art designers inspired me to challenge myself to 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.”
“After WOW, I’m looking forward to sharing Unveiled: The Digital Seam with the community. The exhibition provides a rare opportunity to experience these extraordinary wearable artworks up close in Tauranga. I can’t wait for everyone to see it.”
GLO!, the 2026 WOW Awards Show, runs at Wellington’s TSB Arena until 4 October. Anne-Marie is among 134 finalists from around the world whose entries are being showcased across 18 performances.
Unveiled
